OURT  JESTE 


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^/c^>i — 


(lyViy).AAy,M^  ^^<^  1^1/ 


THE  COURT  JESTER 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Arciiive 

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University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


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I  am  Marguerite  of  Hapsburg  !  ' '  P'lg^  5 1 


THE  COURT  JESTER 


Sy 

CORNELIA  BAKER 

Author  of 

The  Queen's  Page 
Young  People  in  Old  Places,  etc. 


With  Illustrations  by 

MARGARET  ELY  WEBB 

and 

MARGARET  H.  DEVENEAU 


INDIANAPOLIS 

THE  BOBBS-MERRILL  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


Copyright  1906 
The  Bobbs-Merrill  Company 


September 


PRESS  OF 

BRAUNWORTH  &  CO. 

BOOKBINDERS  AND  PRINTERS 

BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 


DEDICATED  TO  MY 
DEAR  EUGENIA  F.  F. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I  Le  Glorieux  Hears  Good  News  i 

II  A  Festival  at  the  Inn  13 

III  An  Exciting  Day  and  Evening  33 

IV  Broken  Promises  61 
V  The  Wonderful  Wisdom  of  Pittacus  76 

VI  Lady  Clotilde's  Moonstone  Pendant  98 

VII  A  Pleasant  Surprise  for  the  Princess  i  24 

VIII  A  Royal  Alchemist  153 

IX  Philibert  in  Danger  167 

X  A  Midnight  Adventure  194 

XI  The  Lady  Marguerite  Is  Very  Brave  214 

XII  An  Austrian  Princess  at  the  Spanish  Court  230 

XIII  Tripping  the  Measures  of  the  Egg-Dance  249 


THE  COURT  JESTER 


THE    COURT    JESTER 

CHAPTER   I 

LE  GLORIEUX  HEARS  GOOD  NEWS 

The  old  duchess  was  talking  of  the  past,  while 
behind  her  chair  Le  Glorieux  was  silently  and  joy- 
ously turning  handsprings.  I  wish  I  might  give 
him  another  name,  for  that  one  is  certainly  a 
mouthful,  but  as  he  really  lived,  and  that  was  what 
he  was  called,  we  must  manage  it  as  best  we  can. 

You  may  think,  and  with  reason,  that  turning 
handsprings  was  not  a  respectful  thing  to  do  when 
a  lady,  and  above  all  a  duchess,  was  talking.  But 
Le  Glorieux  was  the  court  jester,  the  fool,  who 
when  Charles  the  Bold,  son  of  the  duchess,  was 
living,  was  wont  to  make  his  master  laugh.  There- 
fore his  conduct  and  conversation  as  a  rule  were 
not  what  one  could  expect  of  a  sedate  and  dignified 
member  of  society. 

In  the  presence  of  his  late  master,  Le  Glorieux 
could  have  turned  handsprings  in  plain  view,  but 
the  dowager  duchess  was  old  and  querulous  and 
resented  such  performances.  She  was  the  widow 
of  Philip  the  Good,  Duke  of  Burgundy,  and  she 
looked  very  much  like  a  fairy  godmother  in  her 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

quaint  costume  of  the  time  of  Charles  the  Seventh. 
She  had  been  lady  in  waiting  at  the  court  of  the 
French  king,  and  she  still  clung  to  the  high  head- 
dress, towering  some  twenty  inches  above  her 
brow,  and  its  long  veil,  which  seemed  to  be  boil- 
ing in  filmy  folds,  like  foam,  from  its  pointed  top. 
By  her  side  was  an  ebony  crutch,  not  for  the  pur- 
pose of  turning  pumpkins  into  coaches  for  the  con- 
venience of  neglected  Cinderellas,  but  to  support 
the  weight  of  the  owner  when  she  cared  to  move 
about;  for  rheumatism,  which  was  up  and  doing 
even  so  long  ago  as  the  fifteenth  century,  had  no 
more  respect  for  a  duchess  than  for  a  scullery 
maid,  and  had  spitefully  attacked  her  Grace  of 
Burgundy. 

The  windows  were  veiled  by  heavy  curtains 
that  excluded  the  sunshine,  and  the  only  light  in 
the  long  dim  room  came  from  the  brazier  at  the 
feet  of  the  duchess,  who  required  artificial  heat 
even  in  this  warm  autumn  weather.  Outside — Le 
Glorieux  knew — the  birds  were  singing  and  the 
butterflies  were  dipping  in  and  out  among  the 
roses  nodding  in  the  soft  breeze;  but  to-day  the 
beauties  of  nature  did  not  attract  him  so  strongly 
as  did  the  unusual  degree  of  excitement  going  on 
in  the  castle.  The  Lady  Clotilde  had  been  sent 
for  by  her  cousin,  the  young  Duchess  Anne  of 
Brittany,  and  so,  bag  and  baggage  and  servants, 
she  was  to  set  out  on  the  following  morning. 
Throughout  the  castle  was  felt  the  buzz  and  bustle 


LE  GLORIEUX  HEARS  GOOD  NEWS 

of  preparation,  maids  running  in  and  out,  and 
f  pages  spinning  up  and  down  the  staircases,  for  the 
Lady  Clotilde  liked  to  keep  everybody  busy.  Le 
Glorieux  longed  to  see  what  was  going  on,  for, 
though  a  grown  man,  he  possessed  the  heart  of  a 
rollicking  boy  and  was  highly  entertained  by  a 
hubbub. 

There  had  been  plenty  of  diversion  while 
Charles  the  Bold  was  living,  a  fact  of  which  you 
will  be  convinced  when  you  read  your  history  of 
France,  and  he  had  once  taken  Le  Glorieux  with 
him  to  the  wars,  where  the  latter  had  shown  him- 
self to  be  brave  and  fearless,  and  when  Charles  was 
not  planning  campaigns  against  the  neighboring 
countries,  or  engaged  in  carrying  out  his  plans,  he 
liked,  while  sipping  the  red  or  the  white  wine  of 
his  province,  to  listen  to  the  drolleries  of  his  jester. 
In  those  days,  you  see,  there  were  no  newspapers, 
no  printed  jokes,  and  it  was  necessary  for  even  a 
fierce  and  warlike  duke  to  laugh  at  times.  But 
after  the  duke's  death  nobody  cared  much  for  the 
jester's  jokes,  and  his  principal  duty  seemed  to  be 
to  listen  to  the  dowager  duchess  talk,  and  as  she 
was  in  the  habit  of  repeating  the  same  story  a  good 
many  times  a  day,  her  conversation  was  usually 
extremely  wearisome. 

"Yes,"  said  she,  holding  her  wax-like  hands  out 
to  the  brazier  and  rubbing  them  thoughtfully,  "  I 
remember  it  as  well  as  if  it  had  happened  yester- 
day.    I  do  not  know  whether  I  ever  mentioned  to 

3 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

you,  Le  Glorieux,  that  I  was  lady  in  waiting  to  her 
Highness,  Marguerite  of  Scotland,  then  Dauphi- 
ness  of  France?" 

With  the  agility  of  a  cat  the  jester,  who  at  this 
moment  was  standing  on  his  head,  regained  his 
feet  and  stood  respectfully  before  her  Grace. 
"Never,  Cousin,"  replied  he  gravely;  "or  at  least 
not  more  than  five  thousand  times." 

"  I  thought  not,"  she  returned,  for  being  some- 
what deaf  she  had  not  caught  the  latter  part  of  the 
sentence.  "Yes,  I  was  in  the  train  of  that  dear 
and  beauteous  lady  whom  I  loved  so  much  that  I 
still  wear  the  costume  chosen  by  her,  this  cap  and 
veil  and  these  shoes." 

The  old  lady  thrust  out  a  foot  shod  in  a  shoe 
having  a  sharp  point  as  long  again  as  her  foot,  re- 
marking contentedly,  "  This  is  a  fine  style  of  a  shoe, 
do  you  not  think  so,  Le  Glorieux?" 

"Yes,  Cousin,  and  one  calculated  to  encourage 
an  ambitious  great  toe  that  is  anxious  to  keep  on 
growing,"  replied  the  fool,  whose  own  shoes  were 
pointed,  but  in  a  style  far  less  exaggerated  than 
those  of  her  Grace. 

"As  I  was  saying,"  she  went  on,  "  I  remember  it 
as  well  as  if  it  had  happened  yesterday.  The 
dauphiness  was  fond  of  learning,  and  she  composed 
verses  of  no  small  merit.  I  too  caught  the  con- 
tagion and  composed  verses.  I  wish  that  I  could 
remember  some  of  them  to  repeat  to  you." 

"  Do   not  trouble  yourself.   Cousin,"   said   the 

4 


"I  remember  it  well  " 


P^ge  J 


LE  GLORIEUX  HEARS  GOOD  NEWS 

jester  hastily;  "  I  am  nothing  but  a  fool,  you  know, 
and  I  must  deny  myself  many  pleasures." 

"At  the  court,"  she  resumed,  "  lived  at  the  time 
the  great  poet  Alain  Chartier,  who  was  a  wonder- 
fully gifted  man,  though  very  plain.  One  day 
when  the  dauphiness  and  her  ladies— I  was  among 
them,  Le  Glorieux — were  crossing  the  courtyard 
we  found  Alain  Chartier  asleep  on  a  bench.  Much 
to  our  surprise  her  Highness  gathered  up  her  long 
train  so  that  its  rustle  would  not  awaken  him,  and 
tripping  softly  toward  the  sleeping  poet  she  kissed 
him  on  the  lips.  Yes,  Le  Glorieux,  that  great 
princess  consort  of  the  dauphin — afterward  Louis 
the  Eleventh — deigned  to  kiss  a  humble  poet  with 
her  own  lips!     Was  it  not  wonderful?" 

"  Not  so  wonderful  as  if  she  had  tried  to  kiss  him 
with  somebody  else's  lips,"  replied  the  fool,  add- 
ing, "but  it  was  unfair  to  Chartier." 

"Why  unfair?" 

"  Because  she  had  no  right  to  take  him  unawares 
and  unarmed." 

Her  Grace  frowned  darkly  as  she  replied,  "  Le 
Glorieux,  you  are  nothing  but  a  fool  and  you  can 
not  understand  what  an  honor  it  was  for  a  humble 
poet  to  be  kissed  by  a  great  princess.  But  one  of 
the  courtiers  said,  '  Madame,  why  did  you  kiss  that 
extremely  unprepossessing  man?'  The  dauphi- 
ness replied,  '  I  did  not  kiss  the  man ' " 

"  How  could  she  say  that,"  broke  in  the  jester, 
"when  you  all  saw  her  do  it?" 

S 


THE  COURT  JESTER 

"  Do  not  interrupt  me,  Fool.  The  dauphiness 
said,  *  I  did  not  kiss  the  man ' " 

"That  is  what  you  said  before,"  interrupted  the 
fool  again,  "  and  I  say  she  must  have  been  a  very 
silly  little  woman." 

"  Fool,  do  you  not  know  that  you  are  daring  to 
criticise  a  princess  of  Scotland,  daughter  of  James 
the  Second  of  that  country?" 

"  I  do  not  care  if  she  was  the  daughter  of  his 
present  Majesty,  Henry  the  Seventh  of  England;  it 
was  foolish  of  her  to  try  to  make  people  doubt  the 
evidence  of  their  own  eyes." 

"Will  you  let  me  finish,  you  great  gawk?" 
Then  raising  her  voice  and  speaking  very  rapidly 
the  duchess  went  on,  "The  dauphiness  said,  '  I  did 
not  kiss  the  man,  but  that  precious  mouth  from 
which  has  come  so  many  noble  and  virtuous 
words.' " 

"  I  call  that  a  very  slipshod  way  to  get  out  of  it," 
replied  the  fool.  "  Let  us  take  an  example.  Sup- 
pose I  had  gone  to  the  court  of  France  and  had  cut 
ofif  the  late  king's  head.  The  soldiers  arrest  me 
and  I  say,  *  I  did  not  kill  the  man,  I  simply  sliced 
ofif  that  head  which  has  hatched  up  so  many  hor- 
rible schemes.'  Would  they  apologize  and  let  me 
go?    Not  a  bit  of  it!" 

"  But  this,  you  see,  was  figurative." 

"  I  do  not  care  what  you  call  it.  She  kissed  his 
lips,  did  she  not?'* 

"Yes." 

6 


LE  GLORIEUX  HEARS  GOOD  NEWS 

"And  was  not  the  man  behind  them  at  the 
time?" 

"  Of  course,  but  you  see " 

"Then  there  is  nothing  more  to  say  about  it," 
went  on  the  fool. 

The  duchess  reflected  seriously  for  a  moment 
and  then  seemed  to  arrive  at  the  conclusion  that  it 
would  not  pay  her  to  continue  the  argument.  Be- 
sides, she  was  somewhat  muddled  herself.  She 
continued,  "Was  it  a  wonder  that  so  gracious  a 
lady  should  have  been  misunderstood  at  such  a 
court?  And  she  died  mysteriously,  Le  Glorieux, 
when  she  was  but  one-and-twenty,  and  in  her  illness 
she  said,  '  Fie  upon  this  life;  let  no  one  talk  more 
of  it  to  me!'" 

"  I  am  not  surprised  that  she  felt  that  way,"  said 
the  jester.  "  Now  that  Louis  is  dead,  they  say  that 
he  was  not  cruel,  but  firm.  For  my  part,  I  do  not 
like  the  kind  of  firmness  that  wants  to  hang  or 
drown  half  the  people  in  the  kingdom,  though  it 
may  be  that  I  am  too  particular." 

"Yes,  I  remember  that  day  as  well  as  if  it  had 
been  yesterday,"  went  on  the  duchess,  with  her  dull 
eyes  fixed  dreamily  upon  the  red  coals  of  the 
brazier,  and  the  fool  again  glided  behind  her  chair 
and  resumed  the  handsprings. 

At  last,  attracted  in  the  midst  of  her  recollec- 
tions by  the  incessant  ringing  of  the  little  bells  on 
the  jester's  cap,  which  his  lively  motions  kept 
a-tinkle,  the  old  lady  craned  her  neck  and  glancing 

7 


THE    COURT  JESTER 

behind  her  chair  caught  him  in  the  very  act  of 
standing  on  his  head! 

Indignant  at  his  inattention  and  forgetting  the 
license  accorded  court  fools,  she  seized  her  crutch 
and  hit  him  a  swift  rap  across  the  calves  of  the 
legs  which  caused  him  to  reverse  himself  with  a 
howl. 

"  How  dare  you  treat  me  with  such  disrespect, 
and  not  only  me,  but  the  gracious  princess  of  whom 
I  was  talking!"  she  cried  angrily.  "You  shall 
leave  the  court.  I  have  no  need  of  a  fool ! "  Then 
a  sudden  and  pleasant  thought  seemed  to  come  into 
her  mind,  for  she  said,  "  I  know  what  I  will  do.  I 
feel  that  I  should  send  Anne  of  Brittany  a  present, 
and  I  was  going  to  send  her  an  emerald.  I  will 
not  part  with  the  gem ;  I  will  send  you,  Le  Glorieux, 
instead,  with  a  letter  saying  that  I  am  presenting 
her  with  the  most  precious  possession  of  the  late 
Duke  of  Burgundy,  to  cheer  her  in  the  various 
trials  brought  about  by  the  reign  of  one  so  youngs. 
Yes,  that  will  be  fine,  and  I  shall  keep  the  emerald. 
You  may  leave  me.  Fool,  and  prepare  for  your  de- 
parture while  I  think  over  the  wording  of  my 
letter." 

Le  Glorieux  was  so  overcome  with  joy  at  this 
sudden  and  unexpected  turn  of  afifairs  that  he  for- 
got his  abused  calves,  and  his  feet  scarce  touched 
the  steps  as  he  mounted  to  his  little  tower  chamber, 
for  you  must  know  that  a  fool  was  a  kind  of  slave, 
and  although  having  many  privileges  within  the 

8 


LE  GLORIEUX  HEARS  GOOD  NEWS 

palace,  was  not  allowed  to  leave  it  even  for  a  night 
without  special  permission. 

On  the  landing  of  the  staircase  stood  a  boy  of 
eleven  or  twelve  years  of  age,  looking  sadly  out  of 
the  mullioned  window.  He  was  a  pretty  youth 
and  he  wore  a  fine  suit,  to  say  nothing  of  a  cap  with 
a  curling  plume,  but  he  did  not  look  happy. 

"  Cheer  up,  Antoine,"  said  the  jester,  slapping 
him  on  the  back;  "  better  days  are  in  store  for  me." 

"What  will  your  better  days  avail  me?"  asked 
the  boy,  with  a  shrug. 

"Well  answered,"  said  the  jester  reflectively. 
"  Yet  when  things  are  going  well  with  us  we  are 
surprised  that  the  world  does  not  smile  with  us, 
while  we  expect  it  to  boohoo  when  we  are  sad. 
But  I  have  been  given  permission  to  go  to  Brittany. 
Think  of  that!  Try  to  overcome  your  indifference, 
and  think  what  a  joy  it  will  be  to  me  to  live  where  I 
shall  no  longer  hear  the  story  of  the  princess  who 
kissed  the  poet.  And  she  has  just  hit  me  a  blow  on 
the  legs  that  has  raised  lumps  as  big  as  plovers' 
eggs.     Did  it  with  her  crutch,  too!" 

"  She  struck  me  across  the  shoulders  with  it  be- 
cause I  could  not  find  her  needle,  and  she  held  the 
needle  in  her  fingers  all  the  time,"  said  the  page 
mournfully. 

"  Knowing  her  little  ways,  you  should  have 
looked  in  her  fingers  first,"  said  the  fool,  adding 
blithely,  "but  she  will  never  strike  me  again,  be- 
cause I  am  going  away." 

9 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

"You  need  not  continually  flaunt  that  in  my 
face,"  returned  the  boy,  in  an  injured  tone,  con- 
tinuing with  the  mournful  pleasure  that  many  of 
us  take  in  predicting  misfortune  for  people  whom 
we  envy;  "  there  may  be  worse  things  in  store  for 
you  than  to  be  struck  by  an  ill-natured  woman.  I 
heard  of  a  youth  who  went  to  a  strange  court  with 
great  glee  and  the  very  next  day  both  of  his  ears 
were  cut  off." 

"  I  do  not  think  I  should  like  a  thing  of  that 
kind  to  happen  to  me,"  said  the  fool  gravely.  "  Of 
course,  the  loss  of  my  ears  would  never  be  noticed, 
because  my  cap  covers  them,  but  at  the  same  time 
I  think  I  should  miss  them  myself,  having  always 
had  them,  you  know.  But  I  do  not  think  you  quite 
understand  just  why  I  am  going  away.  Our  mis- 
tress is  sending  me  as  a  present,  a  pretty,  dainty 
present,  to  the  young  Duchess  of  Brittany,  and  you 
know  it  would  not  be  good  taste  to  ill-treat  a 
present." 

"You  are  a  strange  present  to  send  to  a  young 
lady,"  remarked  the  page  sourly.  "  I  warrant  she 
will  not  be  overjoyed  with  her  packet  when  it 
meets  her  gaze." 

"  Oh,  yes  she  will,"  returned  Le  Glorleux  easily. 
"You  see  it  is  necessary  for  her  to  be  cheered,  for 
not  only  have  there  been  frequent  turmoils  in  her 
duchy,  but  there  has  been  a  perfect  fever  of  excite- 
ment about  her  matrimonial  arrangements  from 
the  day  she  was  born.     First  they  wanted  her  to 

10 


LE  GLORIEUX  HEARS  GOOD  NEWS 

marry  one  of  the  little  princes  of  England  after- 
ward smothered  by  his  affectionate  Uncle  Richard ; 
then  it  was  the  Infante  of  Spain,  and  though  it  now 
seems  settled  that  she  is  to  marry  Maximilian  of 
Austria,  still  she  must  be  nervous  and  unsettled. 
At  any  rate,  our  mistress  wants  to  do  something 
gracious,  and  being  more  than  a  trifle  close,  and 
not  wishing  to  send  a  valuable  jewel,  she  sends  me 
in  the  care  of  the  Lady  Clotilde  as  the  most  valua- 
ble jewel  of  her  possession." 

"Oh,  Le  Glorieux,  take  me  with  you!"  pleaded 
Antoine,  forgetting  his  sarcasm  in  his  anxiety  to 
share  his  friend's  good  fortune.  "  If  you  only  will 
I  shall  be  your  debtor  for  life." 

"That  would  be  impossible,  my  lad.  You 
must  remain  here  to  find  her  Grace's  needle  when 
she  drops  it,  and  to  lead  the  life  of  a  nice,  tame 
pussy-cat." 

"I  will  not!"  cried  the  boy,  dashing  the  tears 
from  his  bright  eyes.  "  My  father,  who,  as  you 
know,  died  in  battle,  never  intended  that  I  should 
grow  up  thus  tamely.  Take  me  with  you,  oh,  Le 
Glorieux,  do!" 

"  I  should  like  to,"  replied  the  jester  thought- 
fully. "You  could  ride  beside  me  and  you  should 
fetch  your  lute  and  you  could  sing  to  me  along  the 
way  to  make  the  birds  ashamed  of  themselves.  But 
even  if  you  should  run  away,  the  Lady  Clotilde 
would  not  let  you  go  with  us,  for  you  know  what 
she  is.     If  she  were  a  peasant  woman  she  would 

II 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

be  called  sour  and  disagreeable,  but  being  a  great 
lady  she  is  simply  dignified  and  firm." 

But  there  are  times  when  we  are  enabled  to  get 
that  for  which  we  very  much  wish,  and  it  so  hap- 
pened that  the  Lady  Clotilde  wanted  the  boy  in 
her  suite  and  begged  him  of  the  duchess,  who  will- 
ingly acquiesced,  for  caring  not  at  all  for  his  musi- 
cal talent  and  his  handsome  face,  he  was  no  more 
to  her  than  any  other  page. 

So  there  were  not  two  lighter  hearts  In  the  good 
duchy  of  Burgundy  than  were  those  of  the  page 
and  the  jester  as  they  set  about  making  their  prep- 
arations for  departure.  They  were  pleased  to 
leave  the  court  where  life  had  grown  so  monoto- 
nous, and  they  were  delighted  that  they  were  to  go 
in  each  other's  company,  for  though  there  was  a 
difference  of  some  fifteen  years  in  their  respective 
ages,  Le  Glorieux  and  Antoine  were  very  fond  of 
each  other. 


12 


CHAPTER   II 

A  FESTIVAL  AT  THE  INN 

The  following  morning  bright  and  early  the 
procession  rode  briskly  out  of  the  castle  courtyard. 
The  Lady  Clotilde  traveled  in  her  litter  and  was 
attended  by  her  maids  and  her  men-servants  and 
her  guards  on  mules,  the  guards  being  necessary, 
for  it  was  dangerous  for  those  possessing  money 
and  jewels  to  travel  unless  they  were  protected 
from  the  outlaws  who  infested  mountain  and  forest. 

At  the  rear  of  the  company  rode  Le  Glorieux 
on  a  steed  he  always  preferred  when  riding  abroad. 
This  was  a  donkey  which  the  fool  had  named  Pit- 
tacus  after  one  of  the  seven  wise  men  of  Greece,  for 
he  declared  the  little  animal  was  very  wise,  though 
no  one  as  yet  had  discovered  the  fact.  On  the 
jester's  wrist  was  perched  Pandora,  his  hawk,  for 
he  vowed  that  no  man  with  a  proper  degree  of  self- 
respect  would  be  seen  in  public  without  his  hawk, 
which  was  true,  the  fashion  of  the  time  having 
so  decreed.  Pandora  wore  a  cunning  little  red 
leather  hood  with  some  bells  attached  to  it,  and,  to 
keep  her  from  escaping  from  him,  a  cord  attached 
to  her  leg  was  fastened  to  the  jester's  arm. 

Antoine,  whose  lute  was  slung  to  his  shoulder 
by  a  blue  ribband,  was  mounted  upon  a  small  gray 

13 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

mule  and  rode  beside  his  comrade,  the  two  whist- 
ling and  singing  and  making  so  merry  together  that 
more  than  once  the  Lady  Clotilde  put  her  head  out 
between  the  curtains  of  her  litter  and,  with  a  very 
severe  face  and  a  harsh  voice,  bade  them  be  quiet. 

History  tells  us  that  Edward  the  Second  of  Eng- 
land had  a  jester  who  amused  his  royal  master 
simply  by  riding  before  him  and  frequently  falling 
off  his  horse,  so  it  is  no  wonder  that  a  boy  of  the 
age  of  Antoine  should  have  been  kept  in  a  contin- 
uous state  of  merriment  caused  by  the  antics  of  his 
friend.  You  doubtless  have  been  to  the  circus,  and 
you  know  what  a  very  funny  fellow  a  clown  can 
be,  and  how  the  boys  and  girls  in  the  audience  are 
inclined  to  laugh  every  time  he  opens  his  mouth, 
and  how  even  the  grown  people  are  not  ashamed 
to  smile  at  his  drolleries.  Then  imagine  the  bliss 
experienced  by  Antoine  in  riding  with  a  real  clown 
who  performed,  not  because  he  was  expected  to  do 
so  and  was  paid  for  it,  but  because  he  was  anxious 
to  have  a  good  time. 

Sometimes  the  jester  rode  with  his  face  toward 
the  donkey's  tail,  at  others  he  lay  flat  on  the  animal's 
back,  to  the  intense  indignation  of  Pittacus  and 
Pandora,  neither  of  whom  could  appreciate  that 
sort  of  thing.  Then  sometimes  the  boy  and  the 
fool  broke  into  song  together,  and  if  the  birds  were 
not  exactly  "  ashamed  of  themselves,"  as  Le  Glo- 
rieux  had  predicted  they  would  be,  they  must  have 
been  very  much  astonished,  to  say  the  least. 

14 


They  stopped  at  an  old  inn 


Page  IS 


A   FESTIVAL  AT  THE   INN 

This  mode  of  travel  was  not  so  swift  as  one  may 
find  in  France  to-day,  but  it  had  its  advantages, 
for  the  scenery  could  be  more  thoroughly  en- 
joyed when  every  bird  and  every  flower  could  be 
leisurely  surveyed  instead  of  passing  the  car 
window  like  a  flash,  leaving  upon  the  mind  no  im- 
pression whatever. 

After  a  journey  of  some  days  they  entered  Brit- 
tany, and  stopped  at  nightfall  at  an  old  inn  situated 
on  a  clifif  above  the  Loire,  which  smoothly  ripples 
its  way  to  the  Bay  of  Biscay. 

The  arrival  of  the  Lady  Clotilde  and  her  party 
created  a  certain  degree  of  agitation  throughout 
the  inn,  for  an  empress  could  not  have  been  more 
exacting  in  her  demands  than  this  lady,  who  always 
seemed  to  think  that  she  was  created  first  and  the 
rest  of  the  world  added  as  an  afterthought. 

Soon  afterward  there  came  a  middle-aged 
woman  and  a  little  girl  apparently  of  about  twelve 
years  of  age,  who  caused  no  commotion  what- 
ever, for  they  were  unattended  and  plainly  clad. 
The  Lady  Clotilde,  looking  out  of  her  window, 
pronounced  the  woman  to  be  an  ordinary  person, 
and,  supposing  the  little  girl  to  be  the  woman's 
child,  did  not  waste  even  a  glance  upon  her,  but  be- 
gan to  give  quick,  sharp  commands  regarding  her 
own  supper,  which  was  brought  to  her  hot  and 
fragrant  with  appetizing  odors,  and  with  which, 
strange  to  say,  she  found  no  fault. 

But  in  the  great  kitchen  of  the  inn  that  night 

IS 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

there  was  a  joyful  celebration.     The  innkeeper's 
baby  daughter  had  been  christened  that  day  and 
this  was  the  feast  which  followed  it.     Mine  host 
had  invited  Le  Glorieux  and  Antoine  to  join  him 
and  his  friends  in  the  celebration  of  the  occasion, 
and,  after  the  guests  of  the  house  had  been  served, 
a  long  table,  uncovered  and  made  of  rough  un- 
planed  wood,  was  spread  with  all  the  good  things 
the  hostelry  afforded.     There  was  roast  pig  stuffed 
with  chopped  meat  and  aromatic  herbs,  and  there 
were  meat  pasties  and  ragouts,  to  say  nothing  of 
sugared  cakes  and  various  other  dainties.     There 
was  no  coffee,  for  that  was  about  a  hundred  and 
fifty  years  before  that  now  popular  beverage  was 
used  in  Europe,  but  there  was  the  wine  of  the 
country,  which,  being  pure  and  honestly  made,  was 
less  dangerous  than  the  wine  of  to-day.     Another 
feature  was  lacking  which  now  is  so  familiar:  the 
air  at  the  close  of  the  meal  was  not  contaminated 
with  the  odor  of  pipes  and  cigars,  for  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh,  who  brought  tobacco  from  savagery  to 
civilization,   was   not  even  born,  and   the   main- 
land of  the  New  World  was   still  waiting  for 
Columbus. 

Le  Glorieux  in  his  fantastic  costume  of  striped 
yellow  and  green,  and  his  queer  cap  with  its  points 
sticking  out  on  either  side  and  adorned  with  bells, 
was  an  object  of  much  interest,  for  it  was  the  first 
time  these  people  had  ever  seen  such  a  costume. 
To-day  the  portraits  of  the  celebrated  people  of 

i6 


A   FESTIVAL   AT   THE    INN 

the  world  are  familiar  to  all  who  have  pennies  to 
invest  in  newspapers,  and  had  there  been  at  that 
time  the  same  facilities  for  spreading  the  news 
that  there  are  to-day,  Le  Glorieux,  with  his  say- 
ings and  doings,  particularly  in  the  campaign  with 
his  late  master,  would  have  been  written  up  again 
and  again,  and  the  public,  you  may  be  sure,  would 
have  known  his  face  as  well  as  those  of  its  own 
father  and  mother. 

The  innkeeper,  his  family,  and  friends  all  wore 
what  to  us  would  seem  like  comic  opera  costumes: 
mine  host,  fat  and  rosy,  wore  his  holiday  suit  of  a 
gorgeous  color,  and  all  the  men  were  similarly 
attired,  while  the  women  wore  pink,  or  blue,  or 
green  bodices  with  short  skirts  of  a  different  color. 
On  their  heads  they  wore  flat  white  linen  caps  fit- 
ting close,  and  with  tails  to  them  like  mantles  float- 
ing down  their  backs,  the  costume  being  completed 
by  a  high  collar  flaring  out  from  the  shoulders. 

The  fairest  of  the  women  was  the  pale,  pretty 
young  mother,  who  cast  many  proud  glances  at  the 
rude  wooden  cradle  in  the  corner  where  lay  the 
real  heroine  of  the  occasion,  and,  to  her,  the  most 
important  person  in  the  company. 

Considered  the  most  distinguished  of  the  guests, 
Le  Glorieux  was  given  a  seat  at  the  head  of  the 
table,  where  he  immediately  began  to  make  him- 
self at  home,  not  only  with  the  viands,  but  with  the 
company,  keeping  up  a  continuous  chatter  and 
convulsing  his  audience  with  his  merry  jokes. 

17 


THE    COURT  JESTER 

"  I  should  like  to  know  the  name  of  the  woman 
who  came  shortly  after  our  arrival,"  he  said  after 
a  while,  turning  to  his  host,  who  replied,  "  I  do  not 
know  her  name;  her  garb  is  plain,  yet  she  seems 
to  be  one  who  is  accustomed  to  the  best  of  every- 
thing, for  she  insisted  upon  having  two  of  my 
largest  rooms  for  herself  and  the  child,  showing 
that  she  had  the  means  to  pay  for  them.  She  is  on 
her  way  to  the  shrine  of  Saint  Roch  in  the  forest 
beyond,  to  be  relieved  of  a  migraine  that  torments 
her  morning,  noon,  and  night." 

*'  And  the  blessed  Saint  Roch  will  cure  her,"  said 
the  innkeeper's  mother  confidently;  "no  one  goes 
in  pain  from  his  shrine." 

Le  Glorieux  had  noticed  the  shrine  as  they  came 
along.  The  good  saint,  who  is  supposed  to  lend  a 
kindly  hearing  to  those  who  are  suffering  from 
physical  ailments,  was  carved  in  rock  above  a  clear 
spring.  He  was  represented  as  a  young  man  with 
his  robe  lifted  to  show  a  plague  spot  on  his  leg,  and 
by  his  side  was  the  dog  which  brought  bread  to 
him  when  he  was  starving.  When  the  readers  of 
this  story  travel  abroad  they  will  see  pictures  of 
Saint  Roch  painted  by  Rubens,  Guido,  Tintoretto, 
and  other  great  masters. 

"  I  have  heard  my  mother  say  that  when  the 
plague  was  in  many  parts  of  Europe  it  never  came 
near  Brittany  because  of  Saint  Roch,"  remarked  a 
young  woman. 

"I  should  think  not,"  observed  Le  Glorieux; 


A   FESTIVAL   AT  THE   INN 

"  curing  the  plague  is  what  he  prides  himself  upon, 
and  it  is  not  reasonable  to  suppose  that  he  would 
allow  it  to  rage  under  his  very  nose." 

"  From  the  tinkle  of  your  bells,"  said  a  foppish 
young  man  at  the  jester's  left,  a  youth  who  had 
grown  a  little  envious  of  the  attention  paid  to  Le 
Glorieux,  "  I  should  say  that  you  are  a  fool." 

"  And  from  the  tinkle  of  your  tongue,  I  have 
been  suspecting  the  same  thing  of  you,"  retorted 
the  other  quickly. 

"  No  man  may  say  that  of  me !  "  said  the  foppish 
youth,  springing  to  his  feet  and  drawing  his  dagger 
from  its  sheath,  while  the  jester  drew  his  sword. 

"  Shame  upon  you,  Nicole,  to  begin  a  brawl 
upon  such  an  occasion,"  said  the  innkeeper,  rising 
and  putting  his  hand  upon  his  friend's  arm,  while 
some  of  the  women  gave  little  shrieks  of  fear, 
though  at  this  period  the  clash  of  swords  and 
daggers  was  not  an  unusual  sound,  and  such  a  scene 
was  liable  to  happen  in  almost  any  company. 

"Our  host  is  right,"  said  Le  Glorieux,  replacing 
his  sword  in  its  sheath  with  a  decided  clank. 
"  Such  a  fray  is  not  only  disrespectful  to  the  ladies, 
but  it  will  give  an  opportunity  for  that  lovely  pig 
to  get  cold  before  we  have  a  chance  to  finish  it.  I 
will  just  say,  however,  that  if  this  young  man  is 
anxious  to  fight  me  I  am  ready  to  meet  him  in 
some  quiet  spot  at  any  moment  that  may  be  con- 
venient to  him."  And  the  jester  resumed  his  seat 
at  the  table. 

19 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

"  The  woman  who  came  to-day  is  not  the  mother 
of  that  child,"  remarked  the  innkeeper,  anxious  to 
change  the  subject. 

"Did  she  tell  you  so?"  asked  his  mother. 

"  No,  but  I  have  eyes.  The  woman  is  of  the 
ordinary  walks  of  life,  a  German,  I  should  say, 
while  the  little  girl  is  an  aristocrat,  and  if  I  am  not 
very  much  mistaken  she  is  French." 

*'  But  she  is  clothed  no  better  than  the  woman," 
argued  his  mother.  "An  aristocrat  would  not 
travel  without  attendants  and  dress  in  such  poor 
style,  and " 

An  exclamation  from  some  one  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  table  arrested  her  words,  for  standing 
in  the  doorway  was  the  child  of  whom  they  were 
speaking.  She  was  a  pretty  little  maiden  with 
large  blue  eyes,  whose  long  lashes  made  them  ap- 
pear black,  and  her  hair,  which  hung  in  half  curl- 
ing masses  below  her  waist,  was  of  a  reddish  gold. 
She  was  dressed  in  a  dark  blue  gown  of  coarse 
woolen  material,  with  a  close-fitting  cap  of  the 
same.  She  seemed  not  at  all  abashed  at  thus  en- 
tering where  she  had  not  been  invited,  saying  in  a 
clear  sweet  voice,  "May  I  stay  here  for  a  while? 
Cunegunda  put  me  to  bed  and  then  retired  herself, 
for  she  is  so  tormented  by  migraine  that  she  did 
not  sit  by  me  for  a  time,  as  she  usually  does.  I 
could  not  sleep  on  account  of  all  this  racket,  so  I 
dressed  myself  and  came  down  and  would  like  to 
remain  for  a  little  while,  if  I  may." 

20 


A   FESTIVAL  AT  THE   INN 

"  I  am  sorry  we  disturbed  your  rest,  my  little 
lady,"  replied  the  innkeeper  respectfully.  "  I  will 
change  your  room,  if  you  wish." 

"No,"  said  the  little  girl,  "  I  do  not  want  you  to 
do  that.  I  am  going  to  stay  up  as  long  as  you  do  if 
you  will  let  me.  I  want  to  see  what  this  kind  of 
an  entertainment  is  like." 

"Then  I  will  make  a  place  at  the  table,"  re- 
turned he. 

"Thank  you,  no,"  she  returned,  with  dignity. 
"  I  have  had  all  that  I  require.  I  will  just  sit 
here  by  the  window  and  look  on." 

"That  you  may  and  welcome,"  said  the  inn- 
keeper heartily,  "  and  in  order  that  you  may  do  so 
to  the  greatest  advantage,  I  am  going  to  place  you 
here,"  and  lifting  her  lightly  he  placed  her  on  the 
deep  window  seat,  which  was  some  distance  from 
the  floor.  "And  now  you  may  not  only  look  at 
us,  but  at  this  pretty  bird  as  well." 

The  casement  of  the  window,  which  swung  like 
a  door,  was  opened  on  the  inside,  and  perched  on 
top  of  it  where  her  master  had  placed  her,  sulkily 
ruffling  her  feathers  as  though  strongly  disapprov- 
ing of  her  surroundings,  was  Pandora. 

"You  have  never  been  so  close  to  a  fine  hooded 
bird  before,  I  warrant,"  said  the  innkeeper. 

"  I  have  birds  of  my  own,  and  they  are  all 
hooded,"  replied  the  child  indifferently. 

The  people  seated  at  the  table  glanced  signifi- 
cantly at  each  other  as  if  to  ask,  "  Is  she  bragging, 

21 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

or  is  she  of  a  higher  rank  than  she  pretends  to 
be?"  for  middle-class  folk  did  not  possess  hooded 
birds. 

"To  whom  does  this  one  belong?"  asked  the 
child. 

"To  that  gentleman  seated  at  the  head  of  the 
table,"  was  the  reply. 

She  looked  at  him  thoughtfully  and  then  at  the 
bird.  "  I  wonder  how  a  hawk  likes  belonging  to 
a  fool,"  she  said. 

Everybody  laughed,  Le  Glorieux  loudest  of  all. 
"No  matter  how  wise  a  fool  may  appear,  his  cap 
and  bells  will  always  betray  him,"  he  said.  "Yes, 
my  friends,  as  you  no  doubt  have  suspected,  I  am  a 
court  jester.  I  belonged  to  Duke  Charles  the 
Bold  of  Burgundy,  and  now  I  am  being  sent  as  a 
present  to  her  Grace,  the  young  Duchess  of  Brit- 
tany." 

"  I  have  suspected  your  identity  all  along,"  said 
a  fat  friar  seated  at  the  other  end  of  the  table.  "  I 
was  at  Beauvais  during  the  siege  and  I  heard  of 
you  there.     You  are  Le  Glorieux." 

The  jester  rose  and  made  an  extravagant  bow. 
"At  your  service,"  said  he.  "Yes,"  he  continued, 
taking  his  place  again,  "  I  was  at  the  siege  of 
Beauvais.  I  saw  the  young  maid  Jeanne  Four- 
quet,  in  imitation  of  the  Maid  of  Orleans,  fight 
like  a  witch  with  her  little  ax,  for  which  she  was 
named  Jeanne  Hachette,  and  when  a  tall  Bur- 
gundian  was  scaling  the  walls  and  was  planting 

22 


A   FESTIVAL   AT   THE    INN 

his  banner,  she  pushed  him  over  into  the  ditch  and 
waving  her  flag  shouted,  'Victory!'  I  am  not 
boring  anybody  by  talking  about  the  past,  am  I?" 
asked  the  fool  suddenly. 

"On  the  contrary,"  said  the  host,  "it  is  more 
interesting  than  a  tale  of  gnomes  and  pixies." 

"You  see,"  explained  Le  Glorieux,  "I  have 
lived  so  long  at  court,  where  the  past  is  raked  out 
and  talked  over  and  over,  that  I  am  afraid  to  relate 
anything  that  happened  longer  ago  than  the  day 
before  yesterday." 

"  If  it  please  you,  continue,"  said  one  of  the  com- 
pany. "We  are  humble  folk  living  in  a  quiet 
village,  and  we  know  but  little  of  what  happens  in 
the  great  world  outside." 

So  Le  Glorieux  continued,  keeping  the  company 
chilled  with  awe  or  shaking  with  laughter,  accord- 
ing to  the  nature  of  the  incident  he  happened  to  be 
relating.  It  may  be  that  some  of  the  incidents  he 
related  never  occurred  outside  of  his  own  brain, 
but  one  at  least  of  his  anecdotes  may  be  found  in 
history. 

"  It  was  after  the  siege  of  Beauvais,"  said  he, 
"  that  Cousin  Charles  came  nearer  to  giving  me  a 
cuff  on  the  jaw  than  ever  happened  before  or  after- 
ward. He  was  quite  boastful,  was  Charles,  and 
with  considerable  pomp  he  was  conducting  some 
ambassadors  through  the  arsenal.  He  stopped 
short  in  one  of  the  rooms  and  swelling  himself  up 
said,  'This  room  contains  the  keys  of  all  the  cities 

23 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

of  France.'  Then  I  began  to  fumble  in  my  pockets 
and  to  search  all  over  the  room.  'Now,  donkey, 
for  what  are  you  looking  so  anxiously?'  asked  he. 
I  replied,  '  I  am  looking  for  the  key  of  Beauvais,' 
and  that  made  him  turn  as  red  as  your  doublet, 
mine  host,  for  we  had  not  been  victorious  at 
Beauvais." 

"  But  you  were  very  brave  there,  although  a  mere 
youth,"  remarked  the  friar,  "  and  I  should  advise 
our  young  friend  here  to  think  twice  before  he 
meets  you  out,  as  you  have  invited  him  to  do." 

"  Oh,  we  will  let  that  pass,  if  he  is  willing,"  said 
Le  Glorieux  good-naturedly,  an  arrangement  with 
which  the  young  man,  who  was  not  especially 
brave,  was  very  glad  to  agree. 

"  And  now,"  said  the  jester,  "  I  am  reminded 
that  there  is  one  thing  that  I  have  forgotten,  and 
that  is  to  ask  the  name  that  you  have  given  to  that 
blessed  baby." 

"  That  you  will  be  glad  to  hear,"  said  the  host, 
rubbing  his  hands  delightedly.  "The  good  wife 
too  is  a  Burgundian,  and  nothing  would  do  but  that 
we  should  name  the  little  one  for  the  Duchess 
Mary.  Heaven  rest  her  soul!"  he  continued 
reverently. 

It  happened  that  this  was  the  one  theme  that 
could  render  Le  Glorieux  sad.  He  had  worshiped 
the  young  Duchess  Mary,  who  had  ruled  the  prov- 
ince after  the  death  of  her  father,  Charles  the 
Bold — worshiped  her  as  a  faithful  dog  loves  his 

24 


A   FESTIVAL   AT  THE   INN 

kind  mistress.  He  had  seen  her  betrothed  at 
Ghent  to  the  Archduke  Maximilian  of  Austria, 
also  styled  King  of  the  Romans,  and  when  a  few 
years  later  news  had  come  of  her  death,  caused  by  a 
fall  from  her  horse,  the  jester  had  known  the  first 
real  grief  of  his  life. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  mother  of  the  baby.  "  Her  name 
is  Mary,  and  may  she  be  as  good  and  beautiful  as 
the  poor  young  duchess,  cut  off  in  the  bloom  of  her 
life." 

The  jester  rose,  and  going  to  the  cradle  took 
in  his  own  the  little  baby  hand  curled  like  a 
crumpled  rose-leaf.  "  Mary,  namesake  of  an  angel, 
I  salute  you,"  said  he,  pressing  the  tiny  fingers  to 
his  lips. 

"No  matter  how  well  the  children  of  the  poor 
young  duchess  are  cared  for,  they  will  miss  the 
love  of  their  mother,  for  there  is  nothing  like  it," 
said  the  innkeeper's  wife.  "  One  of  them,  the 
Lady  Marguerite  of  Hapsburg,  is  to  be  Queen  of 
France,"  she  added  proudly. 

"  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  witness  that  betrothal," 
said  the  friar,  helping  himself  to  another  piece  of 
the  pasty. 

"You  did!"  cried  Le  Glorleux.  "I  would  give  a 
year  of  my  life  to  see  Mary's  little  child.  Tell 
us  about  it,  good  friar." 

The  child  in  the  window,  who  had  at  first  sat 
carelessly  swinging  her  little  feet,  had  now  drawn 
them  up  to  the  sill,  and  turning  sidewise  and  with 

25 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

her  hands  clasped  about  her  knees,  was  listening 
intently. 

"  It  was  eight  years  ago  that  the  betrothal  took 
place,  if  you  will  remember,"  began  the  friar  in  the 
satisfied  tone  of  one  who  feels  that  what  he  is  about 
to  tqll  will  be  vastly  interesting  to  his  audience. 
''  I  was  riding  my  mule  to  the  city  of  Amboise  on 
business  for  my  order. 

"At  Herdin,  which  is  near  that  city,  I  saw  a 
great  concourse  of  people,  and  being  under  a  vow 
of  silence  for  that  day,  I  could  ask  no  questions, 
but  drew  up  with  the  crowd  to  see  what  was  going 
on.  The  air  was  wild  with  the  acclamations  of  the 
people,  and  gens  d'armes  were  stalking  about  to 
make  the  crowd  stand  back  so  that  the  road  might 
be  left  unobstructed. 

"Then  from  the  city  came  a  glittering  proces- 
sion of  ladies  and  gentlemen  and  archers.  At  the 
head  of  it  rode  a  boy,  whom  from  his  dress  and  the 
deference  paid  him,  I  immediately  recognized  as 
the  Dauphin  of  France,  so  soon  to  be  king.  He 
was  about  twelve  at  the  time,  but  he  looked 
younger,  being  undersized.  He  wore  a  robe  of 
crimson  satin  lined  with  black  velvet,  and  his  black 
horse  was  richly  caparisoned.  Crossing  the  bridge 
the  boy  paused,  for,  slowly  advancing  from  the 
opposite  direction,  was  another  procession  equally 
imposing,  headed  by  a  litter,  silk-curtained  and  sur- 
mounted by  a  crown.  And  then  I  knew  that  I  was 
to  witness  an  event  which  was  to  go  down  in  his- 

26 


A   FESTIVAL  AT  THE   INN 

tory,  for  I  knew  this  was  the  expected  ceremonial 
of  the  betrothal  of  the  little  Lady  Marguerite  of 
Hapsburg,  daughter  of  the  Archduke  of  Austria, 
to  the  Dauphin  of  France. 

"The  young  dauphin  saluted  the  ladies  and 
changed  his  robe  for  one  of  cloth  of  gold.  Then 
from  the  litter  was  lifted  a  tiny  girl  between  three 
and  four  years  of  age,  the  little  archduchess,  whose 
hair  glistened  like  gold  in  the  sunlight.  A  tall 
and  elegantly-dressed  lady  accompanied  her  to  the 
boy's  side,  and  the  prothonotary  asked  in  a  loud 
voice  if  Charles  of  France  would  take  Marguerite 
of  Austria  for  his  bride.  The  boy  answered 
'Yes'  in  a  loud,  clear  voice,  and  a  similar  question 
was  put  to  the  little  archduchess,  who,  after  a 
whispered  word  from  the  lady  at  her  side,  uttered 
a  faint  'Yes.' 

"  And  when  I  rode  on  to  Amboise  I  found  the 
city  gay  with  festoons  of  brilliantly-colored  cloth, 
and  in  the  market  place  there  was  a  fountain  which 
gave  forth  both  white  and  red  wine." 

"The  dear  little  princess!"  said  the  innkeeper's 
wife.  "Though  she  is  to  be  Queen  of  France,  I 
pity  her,  thus  to  be  betrothed  without  a  word  of 
choice  in  the  matter." 

"The  good  God  has  not  divided  happiness  so 
unevenly  as  some  might  suppose,"  observed  the 
friar,  "  for  in  some  things  the  peasant  woman  en- 
joys more  liberty  than  the  queen." 

"The  dear  little  Lady  Marguerite  was  taken 

27 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

from  her  own  country  and  all  her  kin  that  she 
might  grow  up  in  a  foreign  court  and  be  a  true 
French  woman,"  said  one  of  the  women.  "And 
she  was  beautiful,  did  you  say.  Brother  Sebastain?  " 

"  I  did  not  have  a  good  view  of  her  face,  but  I 
should  say  that  she  was  very  fair  to  look  upon,"  he 
replied. 

"  Pretty  she  had  a  right  to  be,"  said  Le  Glorieux. 
"  Her  mother  was  as  beautiful  as  the  morning,  and 
her  father,  when  I  saw  him,  looked  like  a  glorious 
knight  descended  from  the  clouds.  He  was 
mounted  on  a  chestnut  horse;  he  was  clad  in  silver 
armor  and  his  head  was  bound  by  a  circlet  of  pre- 
cious stones.  His  smile  was  so  kind  and  his  face 
so  handsome  that  he  won  all  hearts." 

"Look!  That  child  is  about  to  fall  out  of  the 
window!"  cried  the  friar,  for  the  little  one  was 
gazing  at  the  speaker  with  her  soul  in  her  eyes,  and 
the  better  to  see  him,  was  sitting  on  the  very  edge 
of  the  window-sill  in  a  way  that  indeed  suggested 
a  possible  fall.  Seeing  all  eyes  turned  upon  her 
she  drew  herself  back  and  clasped  her  hands  about 
her  knees  as  before. 

"  And  now,"  said  the  innkeeper,  "  I  notice  that 
a  young  gentleman  of  the  company  has  a  lute,  and 
I  am  sure  we  should  all  enjoy  a  song."  He  looked 
at  Antoine,  who,  though  silent,  had  been  very  much 
engaged  with  the  good  things  set  before  him. 

"You  are  right,  mine  host,"  said  Le  Glorieux. 
"  My  comrade  sings  in  such  a  way  that  I  am  sure 

28 


A   FESTIVAL   AT  THE   INN 

the  nightingales  outside  will  cease  to  trill  from 
pure  envy." 

Musicians,  and  indeed  all  people  who  are  capa- 
ble of  entertaining  others,  have  fits  of  diffidence 
at  the  most  unexpected  moments,  and  although  he 
was  in  the  habit  of  singing  for  the  ladies  of  the 
Burgundian  court,  who  knew  far  more  about  music 
than  these  people  could  possibly  understand,  it 
seemed  to  Antoine  that  if  he  could  unseen  escape 
by  the  door,  and  run  away  into  the  woods,  or  sink 
through  the  floor,  it  would  be  the  greatest  boon 
that  could  happen  to  him.  Not  being  able  to 
efface  himself  in  any  way,  he  resorted  to  a  fib, 
and  said  that  he  would  be  most  happy  to  oblige 
them,  but  that  a  string  of  his  lute  was  broken,  and 
that  he  had  no  other  with  which  to  replace  it. 

Le  Glorieux  strode  to  the  corner  of  the  room 
and  took  up  the  lute  where  the  boy  had  placed  it 
before  supper.  It  was  an  instrument  resembling 
a  modern  mandolin  with  a  crooked  neck,  as  if  it 
had  once  been  strangled,  and  becoming  convulsed 
in  the  effort  to  breathe,  had  remained  petrified  in 
that  position. 

The  jester  held  the  instrument  out  at  arm's 
length,  saying,  "  It  is  strange,  but  even  a  lute  can 
not  remain  disabled  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
good  Saint  Roch.  Here  are  all  the  strings  in  a  per- 
fectly sound  condition,  and  fairly  quivering  with 
anxiety  to  be  played  on." 

A  fib,  like  a  murder,  will  "out"  sooner  or  later, 

29 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

and  realizing  this  fact,  Antoine  said  nothing  more, 
but  striking  a  few  chords  began  to  sing,  though  in 
a  quavering  voice. 

"  See  here,  Antoine,"  said  his  friend,  stopping 
him,  "  I  have  praised  your  voice  and  I  am  not 
going  to  have  you  sing  like  a  frog  that  is  choking 
to  death  in  a  pond.  Open  your  mouth  and  let  your 
words  out  instead  of  keeping  them  prisoners  be- 
hind your  teeth." 

The  boy  was  very  angry  at  being  thus  derided, 
and  his  voice  rang  loud  and  flute-like  in  an  old 
chanson  of  Burgundy,  to  which  his  audience  lis- 
tened with  great  pleasure,  the  innkeeper's  wife  re- 
marking at  its  close  that  it  was  one  she  often  had 
sung  in  her  childhood. 

"  Let  him  sing  some  more  songs  of  Burgundy," 
said  the  child  in  the  window,  speaking  for  the 
first  time  since  she  had  made  the  remark  about  the 
hawk. 

Antoine  complied,  and  in  the  middle  of  the  sec- 
ond song  the  company  was  surprised  by  the 
entrance  of  a  large  woman  clad  in  a  loose  robe  and 
a  nightcap,  who,  without  a  word  of  apology, 
crossed  the  room  to  the  window  and  waving  her 
arms  with  their  wide,  flowing  sleeves,  which  in  this 
position  gave  her  the  appearance  of  a  large  bird 
that  is  about  to  fly,  poured  out  a  torrent  of  words  in 
a  strange  language,  then,  swooping  upon  the  little 
girl,  swept  her  from  the  window  and  held  her  im- 
prisoned in  her  wing-like  arms. 

30 


She  laid  it  on  baby  Mary's  breast  P^gc  3 1 


A   FESTIVAL   AT  THE   INN 

The  child  replied  in  the  same  language  and  in  a 
voice  of  indignation,  but  the  woman  was  about  to 
carry  her  from  the  room,  when  the  little  one 
struggled  to  the  floor,  and  taking  a  piece  of  money 
from  a  small  purse  at  her  girdle,  she  crossed  the 
floor  and  laid  it  on  baby  Mary's  breast.  Then 
turning  with  a  brief  "  Good  night "  to  the  others, 
she  followed  her  grotesque  attendant  from  the 
room. 

"Now  I  wonder,"  said  Le  Glorieux,  "if  that 
woman  is  kidnapping  the  child?  " 

"I  think  not,"  said  the  innkeeper.  "That  was 
the  woman  who  came  with  her  to  the  inn,  though 
she  did  not  look  like  herself  in  that  garb." 

"  To  come  before  a  large  company  in  her  night- 
cap like  that  was  disgraceful,"  said  one  of  the 
women. 

"  She  was  too  agitated  to  think  of  her  appear- 
ance," said  the  friar.  "  I  think  she  was  very  much 
annoyed  at  the  little  one  for  coming  down  here 
alone." 

"  As  if  we  were  ogres  to  swallow  her ! "  cried  the 
innkeeper's  mother  indignantly. 

"  She  has  given  our  little  one  a  fine  present," 
said  the  baby's  mother,  examining  the  coin  by  the 
rush  light.     "Husband,  it  is  gold!" 

"That  child  is  not  an  ordinary  person;  I  have 
said  so  all  along,"  said  the  host,  with  conviction. 

Then  a  lively  discussion  followed,  some  of  the 
women,  and  indeed  some  of  the  men  also,  declar- 

31 


THE    COURT  JESTER 

ing  that  the  authorities  should  be  notified  and  the 
matter  investigated  in  order  to  find  if  the  child 
were  being  carried  ofif  and  away  from  her  home  in 
an  unlawful  manner. 

"My  friends,"  said  Le  Glorieux,  "  perhaps  the 
advice  of  a  fool  is  worth  nothing,  but  such  as  it  is 
you  are  welcome  to  it.  I  always  have  found  that 
when  in  doubt  as  to  what  course  to  pursue,  you 
will  be  convinced  that  the  best  plan  is  to  go  ahead 
and  attend  strictly  to  your  own  affairs.  That  beau- 
tiful child  knows  just  why  she  is  here,  and  it  is  not 
against  her  will,  for  she  had  ample  time  to  tell  us 
her  troubles  and  to  ask  our  aid  if  she  cared  to  do 
so  before  that  old  bird  of  prey  swooped  down  upon 
her.  So  let  us  go  to  bed  and  to  sleep,  for  some  of 
us,  at  least  this  boy  and  myself,  must  be  up  bright 
and  early  and  away  before  the  dew  is  off  the  grass." 

And  so  the  guests  departed  to  their  several  homes 
or  to  their  rooms  in  the  inn,  while  the  host  blew 
out  the  lights,  closed  the  lattice,  and  secured  the 
door.     And  the  nightingales  sang  on  undisturbed. 


32 


CHAPTER   III 

AN  EXCITING  DAY  AND  EVENING 

As  the  Lady  Clotilde  and  her  train  were  about  to 
ride  away  the  next  morning,  Le  Glorieux  said  to 
Antoine,  "I  think  I  will  go  back  to  the  shrine  of 
Saint  Roch.  You  may  wait  for  me.  It  is  only  a 
little  way  and  we  can  soon  overtake  the  others." 

"But  why  do  you  wish  to  visit  the  shrine?" 
asked  the  boy. 

"  I  want  to  say  a  little  prayer  for  the  gout." 
"  I  never  heard  you  complain  of  the  gout." 
"And  small  wonder,  for  I  have  not  a  sign  of  it." 
"Then  why  do  you  want  to  pray  to  be  cured  of 
a  malady  which  you  never  had?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  that  I  may  have  it,"  said  the  fool. 
"  Brittany  is  a  very  rich  country;  the  Duchess  Anne 
is  the  greatest  heiress  in  Christendom,  and  of  course 
there  is  to  be  found  at  her  court  everything  that  the 
appetite  craves,  and  some  day  all  this  may  bring 
on  the  gout.  There  is  nothing  like  taking  things  in 
time,  and  it  may  be  a  good  while  before  I  shall 
again  be  so  near  the  good  saint." 

"Very  well,"  said  Antoine,  "  go,  if  you  like,  and 
I  will  wait  by  the  roadside  for  you." 

So  Le  Glorieux  rode  back  to  the  shrine,  which 

33 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

was  some  half  a  mile  out  of  his  way,  and  remained 
for  a  good  while,  for  he  remembered  a  number  of 
other  maladies  that  might  attack  him  in  the  future, 
and  he  thought  it  was  well  to  be  on  the  safe  side  by 
beseeching  the  saint  to  keep  them  all  at  a  respectful 
distance. 

Finishing  his  orisons  at  last,  he  rode  forward 
with  as  brisk  a  pace  as  Pittacus  was  willing  to  carry 
him,  but  to  his  surprise  and  indignation  Antoine 
was  not  waiting  for  him,  nor  was  he  able  to  over- 
take the  others.  There  was  nothing  to  do,  there- 
fore, but  to  ride  on  alone  to  the  city  of  Rennes, 
where  the  court  of  Brittany  was  then  staying,  and 
where  he  hoped  to  arrive  before  nightfall. 

But  Le  Glorieux  missed  the  company  of  his  com- 
rade, upon  whom  he  resolved  to  be  revenged  for 
thus  leaving  him  in  the  lurch,  and  he  rode  along 
turning  over  his  wrongs  in  his  mind  with  a  mien 
far  less  gay  than  he  was  wont  to  present. 

He  found  as  the  day  began  to  grow  older  and  the 
clock  of  his  appetite  pointed  to  the  time  to  refresh 
himself,  that  the  only  meal  obtainable  was  a  crust 
of  black  bread  and  a  cup  of  goat's  milk  procured  at 
a  peasant's  hut  along  the  way. 

"  I  prayed  to  be  defended  from  gout,"  reflected 
the  fool,  "  but  I  hope  Saint  Roch  does  not  intend  to 
keep  the  disease  at  bay  by  allowing  me  only  coarse, 
plain  food.  Would  it  not  be  a  terrible  thing  if  he 
should  put  it  into  the  Lady  Anne's  mind  that  feed- 
ing a  jester  well  spoils  his  wit?" 

34 


Beseeching  the  saint 


P'^g'  34 


AN    EXCITING    DAY  AND    EVENING 

As  the  afternoon  was  warm,  Le  Glorieux  said, 
"  Pandora,  you  look  sleepy;  Pittacus,  I  am  sure  that 
you  need  a  little  rest,  while  I  am  drowsy.  I  will 
just  take  a  small  nap  under  this  tree." 

So,  after  securing  the  donkey  to  the  tree,  and 
allowing  Pandora  to  perch  on  his  saddle,  with  her 
cord  attached  to  a  ring  at  the  back  of  it,  Le  Glo- 
rieux stretched  himself  on  the  ground,  and  soon 
was  asleep. 

A  very  sound  sleeper,  he  remained  wrapped  in 
the  unconsciousness  of  slumber  until  the  sun  was 
seeking  his  bed  in  the  west,  when  he  woke  suddenly 
with  a  start,  thinking  that  Antoine  was  calling  him 
to  get  up  in  the  morning.  First  rubbing  his  eyes 
to  get  the  sleep  out  of  them,  the  jester  began  to  look 
around  for  his  donkey,  for,  greatly  to  his  surprise 
and  dismay,  Pittacus  no  longer  stood  where  his 
master  had  tied  him,  both  steed  and  hawk  having 
vanished  as  completely  as  if  the  earth  had  swal- 
lowed them  up.  And  still  worse  was  to  come,  for 
a  silk  purse  worn  at  his  belt,  which  contained  all 
of  his  worldly  wealth,  had  disappeared  with  his 
other  property. 

"  Robbed  !  "  groaned  Le  Glorieux,  sinking  to  the 
ground  and  clasping  his  hands  convulsively  about 
his  knees.  "  On  a  strange  soil,  afoot,  and  without 
a  coin  to  bless  myself  with.  Sometimes  I  begin  to 
think  that  I  am  growing  wise,  and  then  it  is  borne 
in  upon  me  that  I  am  nothing  but  a  fool  after  all, 
for  what  man  in  his  senses  would  sleep  beside  the 

35 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

road  in  broad  daylight,  with  all  his  possessions  un- 
guarded?" 

He  made  up  his  mind  that  he  had  been  the  vic- 
tim of  a  highwayman,  which  was  the  natural  con- 
clusion at  which  to  arrive,  though,  strange  to  say, 
his  sword  had  not  been  taken,  and  his  pistol,  which 
he  had  placed  on  the  ground  beside  him,  was  still 
where  he  had  left  it. 

"A  coward,"  thought  the  fool,  " to  rob  a  man  in 
his  sleep,  and  not  a  bray  from  Pittacus,  not  a  scream 
from  Pandora,  to  give  me  warning!  How  kind  I 
have  been  to  those  brutes,  and  they  go  with  a 
stranger  as  cheerfully  as  if  they  were  not  leaving 
their  best  friend." 

He  remained  for  some  time  bewailing  his  ill- 
luck,  and  then,  reminded  by  the  lateness  of  the  hour 
that  it  was  necessary  to  resume  his  journey,  he  set 
out  disconsolately  on  foot. 

After  walking  a  short  distance  Le  Glorieux  be- 
held something,  the  sight  of  which  amazed  him 
quite  as  much  as  the  discovery  of  the  robbery  had 
done,  and  made  him  wonder  if  he  were  still  dream- 
ing. Secured  to  a  tree  and  contentedly  munching 
a  bunch  of  thistles  which  happily  were  within 
the  range  allowed  by  the  length  of  his  halter,  was 
Pittacus!  "  But  Pandora?"  cried  the  jester,  for  the 
bird  was  not  tied  to  the  saddle  and  he  feared  that 
she  had  flown  away. 

A  faint  tinkle  of  bells  called  his  attention  to  the 
tree,  and  there,  tied  to  a  limb,  was  Pandora,  who 

36 


AN   EXCITING   DAY  AND   EVENING 

seemed  to  be  guarding  her  master's  purse,  which 
was  fastened  to  a  twig  beneath  her. 

Le  Glorieux  stared  with  astonishment  at  finding 
his  belongings  in  this  strange  manner.  That  any 
one  should  have  taken,  and  repenting  have  returned 
them,  he  could  not  believe,  and  there  was  but  one 
explanation  of  the  occurrence  that  seemed  at  all 
reasonable. 

It  was  an  age  in  which  witches,  fairies,  and  all 
sorts  of  supernatural  beings  were  believed  to  exist, 
and  the  fool  had  no  doubt  that  a  witch  had  played 
this  trick  upon  him.  She  would  not  need  a  donkey, 
for  everybody  knew  that  when  a  witch  wished  to 
change  her  usual  mode  of  traveling,  she  could  in 
the  twinkling  of  an  eye  turn  a  bundle  of  faggots 
into  a  horse,  which  would  do  very  well  until  she 
wished  to  cross  water,  when  it  would  resume  its 
original  form.  At  any  rate,  Pittacus  was  no  sort 
of  a  mount  for  a  witch,  not  being  sufficiently  swift 
for  those  lively  ladies.  A  witch  could  change  al- 
most anything  into  a  hawk,  so  she  would  not  need 
Pandora,  and  as  to  his  purse,  what  use  would  money 
be  to  a  creature  who  could  have  anything  she 
wanted  without  the  trouble  of  paying  for  it?  Yes, 
a  witch  had  done  this  just  from  pure  mischief  and  a 
desire  to  meddle  with  something  which  did  not  in 
the  least  concern  her. 

Le  Glorieux  put  his  purse  inside  his  doublet,  de- 
termined that  the  next  person  who  took  it  from  him, 
whether  witch  or  highwayman,  must  fight  to  get 

Z7 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

it.  Then  taking  the  bird  on  his  wrist  he  said, 
"  Pandora,  you  might,  yes,  you  might  have  given 
just  one  little  shriek  to  let  me  know  what  was  going 
on.  But  why  do  I  reproach  you,  when  no  doubt 
she  cast  a  spell  over  you  to  keep  you  from  making  a 
sound?" 

Then  he  remembered  that  with  night  coming  on 
this  was  not  a  safe  locality  in  which  to  remain,  for 
if  witches  could  cut  such  capers  in  broad  daylight, 
what  might  they  not  do  under  cover  of  darkness, 
when  they  are  supposed  to  carry  out  their  choicest 
and  most  fantastic  schemes?  So  he  hurriedly 
mounted  and  sped  along  the  road  as  rapidly  as  the 
donkey  could  travel. 

It  was  not  a  pleasant  ride  through  the  murky 
twilight  and  the  gathering  gloom  of  the  forest, 
which  he  now  had  entered.  The  limbs  of  a  dead 
tree  seemed  to  be  long  gray  arms  reaching  out  to 
seize  him,  while  to  his  ears,  strained  to  catch  the 
slightest  sound,  the  crackle  of  the  leaves  in  the 
breeze  was  the  smothered  laughter  of  certain  ladies 
supposed  to  ride  on  broomsticks,  who  were  amus- 
ing themselves  at  the  jester's  expense. 

It  was  some  time  after  dark  when  he  saw  a  num- 
ber of  lights  dotting  the  gloom  before  him,  and  he 
knew  that  he  was  approaching  Rennes.  Greatly 
cheered  by  the  sight,  he  put  spurs  to  Pittacus,  and 
in  a  short  time  arrived  at  the  gates  of  the  palace 
and  galloped  into  the  courtyard  with  allthe  assur- 
ance of  a  guest  who  is  expected.' 

38 


AN   EXCITING   DAY  AND   EVENING 

As  Le  Glorieux  dismounted  a  small  figure  came 
running  out  to  meet  him.  It  was  Antoine,  who  ex- 
claimed, "  Oh,  Le  Glorieux,  how  rejoiced  I  am  that 
you  have  arrived  in  safety!" 

"  If  harm  had  befallen  me  I  should  have  borne 
it  alone,"  returned  the  jester  coldly,  "as  you  did 
not  wait  for  me  as  you  promised  to  do." 

"  I — I — wanted  to  hurry,"  stammered  the  boy. 

"Well,  you  did  hurry,  and  you  were  here  long 
before  me,  and  I  hope  you  are  satisfied.  Small  dif- 
ference does  it  make  to  you  that  those  wretched 
witches  played  me  such  a  scurvy  trick.  They  might 
have  turned  me  into  a  salamander  for  all  you  would 
have  cared." 

And  without  waiting  for  a  reply  the  jester 
stalked  away. 

The  various  homes  of  the  dukes  of  Brittany  were 
sumptuous  abodes,  and  Francis  the  Second,  the  last 
of  them,  was  a  noble  of  great  wealth  who  spent  his 
money  freely,  and  was  fond  of  beautifying  his  sur- 
roundings. Le  Glorieux  walked  through  spacious 
apartments  that  were  decorated,  gilded,  and 
carved,  and  hung  with  richest  tapestries,  but  he 
trod  the  polished  floors  with  the  air  of  one  who 
was  perfectly  at  home  in  a  palace,  and  accus- 
tomed to  luxurious  surroundings.  This  was  indeed 
the  case,  as  he  had  gone  as  a  page  to  the  court 
of  Burgundy.  He  was  so  happy  to  be  where  all 
was  bright  and  cheerful  and  to  have  escaped  from 
the  dangers  of  the, forest,  that  he  did  not  mind  the 

39 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

severe  scathing  given  him  for  his  tardiness  by  the 
Lady  Clotilde. 

The  young  Duchess  of  Brittany  was  in  the  long 
salon  surrounded  by  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of 
her  court.  She  was  one  of  the  most  interesting  per- 
sonages of  Europe  at  that  time,  for,  as  has  already 
been  said,  her  father's  death  had  left  her  the  richest 
heiress  in  Christendom,  the  owner  of  a  province 
that  France  had  been  trying  by  hook  or  by  crook 
to  gain  possession  of  for  the  last  five  hundred  years ; 
a  young  maiden  whose  hand  had  already  been 
sought  by  the  heirs  to  the  crowns  of  England, 
France,  Austria,  and  Spain,  although  she  was  but 
fifteen  years  of  age. 

'The  young  readers  of  this  story  whose  parents 
bear  all  their  burdens  for  them  will  find  it  difficult 
to  understand  the  position  of  the  little  duchess.  Her 
father  had  idolized  her  and  had  stood  between  her 
and  all  care,  but  at  his  death,  three  years  before  the 
time  when  we  first  meet  her, she  found  herself  at  the 
head  of  a  government  with  many  weighty  matters 
awaiting  her  decision,  with  a  man  she  detested 
■waiting  to  marry  her,  with  clever  statesmen  plot- 
ting against  her,  and  great  nations  threatening  war. 
But  now  matters  had  taken  a  better  turn ;  she  had 
refused  to  marry  the  detested  man,  France  had 
withdrawn  its  troops  from  Breton  soil,  and  once 
more  peace  smiled  upon  the  land. 

The  Lady  Anne  was  tall  for  a  girl  of  her  age; 
she  was  very  fair,  and  her  cheeks  glowed  with  the 

40 


AN    EXCITING   DAY  AND   EVENING 

bloom  of  health;  her  nose  was  straight,  and  when 
she  smiled  her  mouth  was  particularly  attractive, 
the  expression  of  her  face  being  always  very  pleas- 
ing. Her  gown  of  soft  dark  silken  material  was 
more  simple  than  those  w^orn  by  some  of  her  ladies, 
and  on  her  brown  hair  she  wore  a  kind  of  close  cap 
made  entirely  of  pearls. 

"  And  you  are  Le  Glorieux,  sent  by  our  cousin  of 
Burgundy?  "  she  said,  after  the  jester  had  made  his 
obeisance. 

"Yes,  Cousin  Anne.  Her  Grace  of  Burgundy 
wished  to  send  you  something  very  precious,  for 
she  entertains  a  great  amount  of  respect  and  love 
for  you.  She  had  a  big  emerald  which  Uncle 
Philip  had  taken  from  a  Frenchman,  who  had 
taken  it  from  a  Spaniard,  who  had  taken  it  from  a 
Moor,  which  she  was  going  to  send  you,  but  she 
said,  'No,  that  is  not  my  most  precious  possession. 
The  jewel  of  my  heart  is  Le  Glorieux,  who  scin- 
tillates day  and  night;  he  shall  be  presented  to  the 
most  beautiful  and  the  wisest  of  rulers.' " 

The  duchess  laughed  as  she  said,  "Never  did  I 
expect  to  own  so  large  a  jewel.  Our  cousin  of  Bur- 
gundy is  most  kind." 

Passing  the  Lady  Clotilda  as  he  moved  behind 
the  chair  of  the  duchess,  Le  Glorieux  whispered  to 
the  former,  "  At  least  we  shall  not  be  bored  by  rem- 
iniscences here,  for  her  Grace  is  too  young  to  have 
had  any  past.  Cousin  Clotilde,  did  you  ever  hear 
of  the  princess  who  kissed  the  poet?" 

41 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

The  Lady  Clotilde  thought  jokes  a  great  waste  of 
time,  and  she  rarely  saw  the  point  to  one  when  she 
heard  it,  but  now  she  actually  smiled,  an  act  so  un- 
usual with  this  good  lady  that  the  jester  afterward 
declared  to  Antoine  that  the  muscles  of  her  face 
creaked,  being  rusty  from  disuse. 

Time  for  the  rich  of  the  fifteenth  century  was 
divided  quite  dififerently  from  what  it  is  to-day. 
At  dawn  the  watchman  blew  a  horn  to  announce 
the  approach  of  day,  after  which  the  servants  and 
retainers  about  the  castle  began  their  serious  duties, 
while  the  heads  of  the  family  dressed,  said  their 
prayers,  and  attended  mass  in  their  own  chapel. 

At  ten  o'clock  dinner  was  ready,  and  after  re- 
maining at  table  as  long  as  possible,  the  gentlemen 
adjourned  to  the  courtyard  to  play  tennis,  a  game 
which  is  hundreds  of  years  old.  Supper  was  at  four, 
after  which  the  lords  and  ladies  of  the  manor  were 
ready  to  be  amused  at  whatever  form  of  divertise- 
ment  that  presented  itself. 

The  duchess  and  her  ladies  had  been  playing  at 
cards  called  "  tarotsi'  from  their  checkered  backs, 
a  game  for  which  the  Lady  Anne,  at  least  to-night, 
did  not  seem  to  care,  for  she  threw  the  cards  about 
carelessly  and  appeared  to  be  thinking  of  some- 
thing else. 

She  seemed  to  be  relieved  and  to  give  a  ready 
assent  when  a  page  announced  that  there  were  cer- 
tain performers  below  who  craved  the  honor  of 
playing  before  her  Grace,  the  Duchess  of  Brittany. 

42 


AN   EXCITING   DAY  AND   EVENING 

Theaters  as  we  now  have  them  were  then  unknown, 
and  strolling  players  traveled  over  the  country 
doing  their  various  tricks  at  inns  or  in  the  houses 
of  the  rich,  where  they  were  paid  according  to  the 
generosity  of  the  audience.  During  the  day  they 
performed  in  courtyards,  but  to-night  they  ap- 
peared in  the  grand  salon,  the  assembled  company 
moving  to  one  end  of  it  to  give  greater  room. 

First  came  a  man  with  a  performing  monkey, 
whose  antics  excited  roars  of  laughter,  followed  by 
a  jongleuse,  or  female  juggler,  who  won  a  great 
deal  of  admiration  by  her  dexterity  in  whirling  a 
little  drum  about  on  the  very  tips  of  her  fingers. 
Then  came  a  man  who  could  turn  a  number  of 
somersaults  without  touching  his  hands  to  the 
floor,  which  would  seem  to  have  been  a  dangerous 
feat  to  attempt,  for  before  each  performance  he 
was  careful  to  make  the  sign  of  the  cross. 

This  ended  the  program  of  the  players,  and  Le 
Glorieux,  who  had  watched  them  from  his  place 
on  the  floor,  where,  sprawling  with  his  elbow  rest- 
ing on  a  cushion,  he  was  making  himself  as  com- 
fortable as  possible,  was  now  anxious  to  have 
Antoine  appear,  for  he  knew  that  in  his  way  the  boy 
was  far  more  talented  than  any  who  had  to-night 
performed  before  the  court.  So,  with  the  permis- 
sion of  the  duchess,  he  went  to  fetch  Antoine. 

"Now,  my  young  friend,"  said  he,  taking  the 
boy  by  the  ear,  "  I  want  you  to  do  us  both  credit. 
No  choking  and  squeaking  to-night,  if  you  please." 

43 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

"  You  do  not  know  what  it  is  to  be  seized  with  a 
panic,"  retorted  Antoine  sulkily.  ''Very  easy  it  is 
for  you,  who  have  the  impudence  to  flout  kings,  to 
talk  thus  to  one  who  is  frightened  of  strangers." 

"Fie!"  exclaimed  Le  Glorieux.  "Do  not  think 
of  what  the  people  think  of  you ;  think  of  what  you 
think  of  them,  and  you  will  have  no  trouble," 
which,  although  a  sentence  having  a  good  many 
"  thinks "  in  it,  is  not  a  bad  rule  to  follow  when  per- 
forming in  public. 

Antoine  seemed  to  heed  his  friend's  advice,  for 
he  began  a  lively  air  so  inspiring  that  the  duchess 
kept  time  with  her  small  fingers  on  the  arm  of  her 
chair,  while  Le  Glorieux  sprang  up  and  danced  in 
a  series  of  glides  and  whirls,  with  his  fantastic 
figure  reflected  in  the  polished  floor. 

A  good  while  before  the  period  of  which  I  am 
telling  you  there  were  trouveres  and  troubadours 
who  used  to  compose  songs  while  they  were  singing 
them.  Antoine,  being  a  born  musician,  often  did 
the  same  thing  when  he  was  in  the  humor  for  it, 
and  that  too  with  considerable  success. 

He  now  began  a  weird  little  accompaniment  sug- 
gesting the  sighing  of  the  wind  through  the  woods, 
and  then  followed  the  woeful  tale  of  witches  who 
stole  a  knight's  purse  and  horse  and  hawk,  and  later 
transformed  the  knight  himself  into  a  dancing  der- 
vish who  kept  on  whirling  and  whirling  for  ever. 
There  was  a  twinkle  of  mischief  in  the  boy's  eyes 
as  he  sang,  and  although  the  company  thrilled  de- 

44 


^AN   EXCITING   DAY  AND   EVENING 

liciously  at  the  blood-curdling  passages,  Le  Glo- 
rieux  knew  quite  well  who  was  meant  by  the 
bewitched  knight. 

When  the  song  was  finished  the  fool  stalked  for- 
ward and  picked  up  the  singer  by  the  back  of  the 
neck  as  a  mother  cat  lifts  her  kittens.  "  I  under- 
stand it  all  now,"  said  he.  "  Cousin  Anne,  I 
thought  the  witches  had  played  me  a  trick  this 
afternoon,  but  it  was  this  little  villain,  who  evi- 
dently skulked  along  behind  me,  awaiting  his 
opportunity  to  do  me  some  mischief!" 

"  I  am  sure  her  Grace  will  not  be  interested  in 
your  private  matters,"  said  the  Lady  Clotilda 
coldly. 

But  the  duchess  was  young  enough  to  be  inter- 
ested in  nonsense,  and  she  demanded  the  whole 
story,  Antoine  explaining  his  part  of  it  by  saying 
that  he  had  been  waiting  all  day  to  be  revenged 
upon  his  comrade  because  the  latter  had  insisted 
upon  his  singing  at  the  inn  on  the  previous  night. 
"  But  I  did  not  know,  your  Highness,  that  he  would 
sleep  so  long,  else  I  should  not  have  gone  away  and 
left  him  there.  I  was  very  unhappy  about  him 
when  night  came  on  and  he  had  not  yet  arrived." 

Just  as  Antoine  had  finished  speaking,  a  servant 
came  to  announce  the  coming  of  some  of  her 
Grace's  soldiers,  saying  that  the  captain  of  her 
troop  desired  an  audience,  which  was  granted  at 
once. 

An  officer  now  entered,  a  dark-browed  man  with 

45 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

a  somewhat  forbidding  face,  who,  after  bending 
the  knee  to  the  duchess  and  saluting  the  company, 
began  his  story  in  the  satisfied  tone  of  one  who  feels 
that  he  has  been  quick  to  see  his  duty  and  has  done 
it  rather  better  than  most  people  would  have  man- 
aged it  in  his  place. 

He  said  that  he  had  stopped  that  morning  at  an 
inn  for  some  refreshments,  and  that  the  innkeeper 
had  shown  him  a  gold  piece  given  his  child  the 
night  before  by  a  little  girl  whose  costume  did  not 
warrant  the  gift,  and  that  the  latter  had  seemed  so 
much  superior  in  station  to  the  woman  with  whom 
she  was  traveling  that  he  could  not  help  fearing 
that  the  child  was  being  unlawfully  conveyed 
away. 

Later  the  officer  and  his  men  had  overtaken  the 
mysterious  couple,  and  after  putting  some  ques- 
tions the  officer  was  convinced  that  the  woman  had 
been  sent  to  Brittany  by  the  French,  for  she  had 
become  very  much  confused  when  he  questioned 
her,  and  implored  him  to  allow  her  to  go  on  her 
way  unmolested.  Her  words  and  manner  excited 
his  suspicions  still  further,  and  without  more  ado 
heiiad  taken  them  both  prisoners,  and  had  brought 
them  to  the  palace  with  him.  The  woman  was  a 
foreigner,  she  said,  but  she  acknowledged  that  she 
had  lived  for  years  in  France,  and  he  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  say  that  he  believed  her  to  be  a  spy. 

The  Lady  Anne,  so  far  from  being  gratified  by 
this  intelligence,  looked  very  much  annoyed.  "  We 

46 


AN   EXCITING   DAY  AND   EVENING 

are  no  longer  at  war  with  France,"  she  said  coldly. 
"  It  would  have  been  better  to  have  believed  the 
woman's  account  of  herself  and  let  the  two  go  on 
their  way." 

Considerably  dismayed  at  thus  being  reproved 
where  he  had  expected  to  be  commended,  the  of- 
ficer could  not  forbear  to  reply  that  France  had 
broken  her  word  with  Brittany  in  the  past,  and  who 
could  tell  but  that  she  might  be  planning  some  new 
piece  of  treachery? 

"Let  the  prisoners  appear  before  me,"  said  the 
duchess,  and  after  some  little  delay  the  prisoners 
were  brought  in,  and  Le  Glorieux  and  Antoine  be- 
held— as  the  former,  at  least,  had  suspected — the 
same  woman  and  child  who  had  stopped  at  the  inn 
on  the  previous  night. 

The  woman  was  pale  and  frightened,  and  she 
sobbed  bitterly  as  she  knelt  at  the  feet  of  her  Grace 
of  Brittany.  The  child  too  w^as  pale,  but  she  stood 
silent,  with  her  small  hands  clasped  before  her,  not 
offering  to  kneel,  as  did  her  companion. 

"  Oh,  gracious  lady,  give  us  permission  to  go  on 
our  way  at  dawn  to-morrow!"  implored  the 
woman.  "We  have  been  brought  out  of  our  way 
by  your  soldiers,  and  if  we  do  not  reach  home  soon 
I  do  not  know  what  will  happen,"  and  she  con- 
cluded with  another  burst  of  tears. 

"You  should  be  German  by  your  accent,"  said 
the  duchess  kindly.  "  Calm  yourself  and  tell  me 
your  name  and  why  you  have  come  to  Brittany." 

47 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

The  woman  hesitated,  and  the  child  said  quietly, 
"  Tell  her  Grace  your  name ;  there  is  no  reason  why 
you  should  not  do  so." 

"  Cunegunda  Leutner;  I  am  an  Austrian,  your 
Grace,"  was  the  reply. 

"Then  she  is  a  subject  of  your  own,  after  all. 
Cousin  Anne,  since  you  are  to  marry  the  Archduke 
of  Austria,  Poco  Danari/'  interposed  Le  Glorieux, 
who  was  not  afraid  to  rush  in  where  angels  fear  to 
tread. 

The  little  duchess  blushed  crimson  at  this  speech. 
Perhaps  she  was  annoyed  to  hear  the  name  Poco 
Danari,  which  means  poverty-stricken,  applied  to 
her  lover,  and  which  had  been  given  to  Maximilian 
of  Austria  because  his  rich  old  father  was  too  stingy 
to  allow  him  necessary  funds.  Whatever  the  cause, 
she  seemed  about  to  administer  a  rebuke  to  the 
fool,  then  controlling  herself  turned  again  to  the 
woman. 

"And  the  girl,  is  she  your  child?" 

"No,  your  Grace,  but  I  have  cared  for  her  from 
the  day  she  was  born." 

"  What  brought  you  to  Brittany?  " 

"  For  the  reason  I  told  your  Grace's  soldiers.  I 
visited  the  shrine  of  Saint  Roch,  the  blessed  saint 
whose  fame  for  healing  all  maladies  is  known  far 
and  wide." 

"  You  do  not  look  like  an  invalid,"  remarked  the 
duchess,  surveying  the  stout  figure  and  round  face 
of  the  speaker. 

48 


AN   EXCITING   DAY  AND   EVENING 

"  It  is  the  migraine,  your  Grace,  a  pain  which 
has  troubled  me  day  and  night,  and  which  leeches 
tell  me  is  liable  to  reach  the  heart.  Oh,  dear  and 
gracious  lady,  I  should  not  care  for  myself;  life  is 
not  so  precious  that  I  should  want  to  cling  to  it;  it 
is  for  this  little  one  that  I  want  to  live,  and  for  that 
reason  I  have  taken  this  long  journey  to  implore 
the  blessed  saint  to  cure  me,  that  my  life  may  be 
spared  until  she  no  longer  needs  me." 

"  Is  the  child  an  orphan?  " 

^'Her  mother  is  dead,  your  Grace.  Her  mother 
bade  me  always  to  be  a  friend  to  her,  and  I 
promised." 

"  Her  father  is  married  to  a  woman  who  is  un- 
kind to  her?" 

"  He — he — is  about  to  be  married,  your  Grace," 
stammered  the  woman. 

"  Cousin  Anne,"  again  interrupted  the  jester, 
"  this  woman  is  telling  the  truth  about  the  visit  to 
the  shrine  of  Saint  Roch.  I  saw  her  and  the  child 
going  there  this  morning  just  as  I  was  coming  away 
after  a  long  prayer  to  be  relieved  of  the  gout,  which 
I  never  have  had,  but  which  may  overtake  me  like 
a  thief  in  the  night." 

Every  one  smiled  at  this  remark  save  the  duchess, 
who  again  turned  to  the  Austrian.  "  Why  did  you 
bring  the  child  with  you  upon  a  journey  fraught 
with  discomfort,  if  not  with  danger?" 

"  Because,  your  Grace,  I  have  sworn  never  to 
leave  her,  and  never  a  night  of  her  life  has  she  slept 

49 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

without  my  first  smoothing  the  coverlid  over  her 
little  body." 

"What  is  her  name?    Who  is  she?" 

The  Austrian  v^as  silent  a  moment.  "  If  it  please 
your  Grace,  there  are  reasons  which  forbid  a  reply 
to  that  question,"  she  said  slowly. 

"But  I  insist  upon  a  reply,"  said  the  Duchess 
Anne,  with  a  touch  of  that  firmness  which  made 
her  appear  older  than  her  years. 

The  prisoner  bent  her  head  still  lower  as  she 
replied  in  tones  of  emotion,  "  Gracious  lady,  so  well 
beloved  by  your  subjects,  show  us  a  little  of  that 
kindness  you  vouchsafe  to  others.  We  ask  no  favor 
but  to  be  allowed  to  depart  early  to-morrow  morn- 
ing. It  is  necessary  for  us  to  go.  I  know  not  what 
will  happen  if  we  are  longer  delayed.  Believe  me, 
I  am  speaking  the  truth." 

"Truly,"  said  the  young  duchess  gently,  "we 
each  have  a  right  to  the  secret  of  our  hearts."  After 
a  moment's  reflection  she  said,  "You  shall  go 
within  five  days  at  most,  and  in  a  company  that 
w^ill  insure  your  protection.  Until  your  departure 
you  shall  be  made  as  comfortable  as  possible,  and 
you  shall  not  leave  my  domains  empty-handed. 
This  much  at  least  I  owe  you  for  the  discom- 
fort you  have  suffered  through  my  overzealous 
soldiers." 

To  remain  as  a  guest  in  this  splendid  abode,  and 
to  receive  a  sum  of  money  at  the  end  of  the  visit, 
to  say  nothing  of  a  safe  conduct  home,  would  not 

50 


« *  I  am  Marguerite  of  Hapsburg  ! ' '  P^ge  3 1 


AN   EXCITING   DAY  AND   EVENING 

by  most  people  be  considered  a  hardship,  but  the 
woman  looked  as  if  she  had  received  a  blow.  "  Oh, 
lady,"  she  moaned,  "your  Grace  means  to  be  kind, 
but  let  us  go  to-morrow.  Not  an  hour  longer 
must  we  wait.  Even  now  our  absence  may  be 
discovered." 

"Discovered?"  said  the  Lady  Anne.  "Why 
should  a  pious  journey  require  so  much  secrecy? 
But  guard  your  secret  if  you  like.  You  shall  de- 
part within  five  days,  as  I  have  said;  it  may  be  a 
little  earlier;  it  will  not  be  longer  than  that  time." 

"Alas,"  cried  the  woman,  turning  wildly  to  the 
child  and  seeming  to  forget  all  caution,  "  what  will 
she  say  when  she  finds  that  we  are  away?  Cold 
and  revengeful  as  her  father,  she  may  send  me  to 
my  death!" 

"  Of  whom  are  you  speaking?  "  asked  the  duchess 
wonderingly.  "Who  has  the  power  to  punish  so  se- 
verely a  pilgrimage  to  the  shrine  of  Saint  Roch?" 

Overcome  by  her  emotion,  the  woman  made  no 
reply,  but  the  child  now  stepped  forward  and  said 
in  a  voice  that  all  might  hear,  "The  Duchess  of 
Brittany  has  no  right  to  keep  me  here  against  my 
will!  I  shall  depart  when  I  please.  My  rank  is 
higher  than  yours.  You  ask  my  name?  You  shall 
know  it,  happen  what  will.  I  am  the  grand- 
daughter of  an  emperor;  I  am  the  future  Queen 
of  France.     /  am  Marguerite  of  Hapsburg!" 

An  earthquake  shaking  the  palace  from  turret 
to  donjon  keep  would  not  have  caused  a  greater 

SI 


THE    COURT  JESTER 

degree  of  surprise,  for  there  was  something  in 
the  manner,  the  tone,  and  the  expression  of  the 
child  that  left  no  room  for  doubt.  Her  exquisitely- 
poised  head  was  thrown  proudly  back,  and  though 
her  full  red  lips  quivered  slightly,  her  eyes  were 
dry  and  bright. 

Strange  to  say,  the  fool  of  the  company  was  the 
first  to  gain  his  self-possession.  With  a  swift,  glid- 
ing step  he  advanced  toward  the  little  lady,  and 
kneeling  he  pressed  her  hand  to  his  lips.  "  Mary's 
little  child! "  he  exclaimed  with  a  half  sob. 

"You  said  last  night  that  you  would  give  a  year 
of  your  life  to  see  the  daughter  of  Mary  of  Bur- 
gundy, and  now  your  wish  is  granted  for  naught," 
said  Marguerite,  smiling. 

The  Lady  Anne  now  came  forward,  and  clasp- 
ing the  princess  in  her  arms  kissed  her  on  both 
cheeks.  "The  little  lady  whom  of  all  others  I 
have  most  desired  to  see!"  she  said.  "Happily 
sheltered  in  the  arms  of  my  own  dear  father  I 
heard  of  you,  a  tiny  child  away  from  your  parents 
and  in  a  strange  country.  And  once  I  sent  you  a 
doll.  I  dare  say  you  have  forgotten  it,"  she  went 
on,  half  laughing.  "  It  was  a  fashion  model  that 
had  been  sent  to  my  grandmother,  who  was  going 
to  live  at  the  court  of  France  in  the  time  of  Charles 
the  Seventh,  and  it  was  one  of  my  dearest  posses- 
sions. It  wore  a  high  pointed  cap  with  a  long 
flowing  veil,  and  it  had  long  pointed  shoes." 

"It  must  have  looked  like  the  old  Duchess  of 

52 


AN   EXCITING   DAY  AND    EVENING 

Burgundy,"  remarked  Le  Glorieux,  who  was  again 
his  old  impudent  self.  "Did  it  talk  of  the  prin- 
cess who  kissed  the  poet,  Cousin  Anne?" 

"  It  was  dressed  in  the  mode  of  the  princess  who 
kissed  the  poet,"  she  returned,  laughing.  "  Do  you 
remember  it,  Lady.  Marguerite?" 

"  Yes,  Lady  Anne,  and  I  have  it  still.  Since  the 
day  you  sent  it  I  always  have  remembered  you  in 
my  prayers.  With  it  came  a  little  chain  set  with 
pearls,  but  I  liked  the  doll  best." 

Just  here  the  jester  began  to  laugh  immoder- 
ately, slapping  his  knees  and  stamping  at  the  same 
time,  while  every  one  else  smiled  in  sympathy. 

"What  do  you  find  so  very  amusing,  Fool?" 
asked  the  Lady  Anne. 

He  replied,  "  Some  things  that  happen  in  royal 
families  are  so  very  funny  that  they  would  make 
Pandora,  my  hawk,  laugh,  though  she  is  such  a 
sulky  little  brute.  Once  explained  to  Pittacus,  my 
donkey,  and  he  would  smile  until  every  tooth  in 
his  head  could  be  seen.  You  asked  if  this  child's 
father  was  married  to  a  woman  who  was  unkind 
to  her,  and  her  nurse  said  he  was  about  to  be  mar- 
ried. And  you.  Cousin  Anne,  ha!  ha!  you  are  to 
be  the  cruel  stepmother!" 

There  was  no  denying  the  fact  that  the  Lady 
Anne  was  about  to  be  the  stepmother  of  the  Lady 
Marguerite,  for  Maximilian,  who  was  still  young 
and  handsome,  was  shortly  to  marry  the  young 
Duchess  of  Brittany. 

53 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

But  again  the  duchess  seemed  to  be  embarrassed, 
and  she  turned  her  back  to  Le  Glorieux  as  she 
said,  "My  dear  Lady  Marguerite,  I  will  not  keep 
you  here  a  moment  when  you  must  be  overcome 
with  fatigue.  I  will  send  you  to  your  apartments, 
where  supper  shall  be  served  you,  and  then  when 
you  have  retired  and  are  resting  I  will  come  and 
talk  to  you,  if  I  may." 

The  princess,  so  far  from  being  conducted  to  the 
plain  but  comfortable  quarters  which  would  have 
been  hers  had  her  identity  remained  a  secret,  was 
now  shown  all  the  deference  accorded  a  person  of 
rank.  Pages,  maids,  and  even  ladies  of  high  de- 
gree, rushed  about  to  make  her  comfortable,  a  deli- 
cious supper  was  served,  and  she  lay  down  to  rest 
beneath  the  gold-embroidered  canopy  of  a  couch 
even  more  sumptuous  than  her  own  bed  in  the 
palace  of  Amboise. 

Cunegunda,  who  had  been  given  a  room  next 
to  that  of  her  young  mistress,  after  smoothing  the 
silken  coverlid  over  her  young  charge,  satisfied  that 
nothing  dreadful  was  going  to  happen  to-night, 
at  least,  had  retired,  and  was  sleeping  the  sleep  of 
the  fatigued  when  the  Lady  Anne  entered  the 
apartment  of  her  young  guest. 

The  duchess  had  changed  her  gown  for  a  long 
robe  of  dark  blue  silk  trimmed  in  fur,  with  a  little 
cap  of  the  same,  and  in  this  plainer  garb  she  seemed 
younger  and  less  stately  than  in  the  earlier  part  of 
the  evening. 

54 


AN   EXCITING   DAY  AND   EVENING 

The  princess,  with  her  bright  hair  flowing  over 
the  cushions  against  which  she  leaned,  seemed 
pathetically  young,  and  it  is  a  singular  fact  that 
about  these  two  children  revolved  the  most  im- 
portant events  in  the  history  of  Europe  at  that 
time,  events  which  drove  great  statesmen  to  their 
wits'  end,  and  changed  the  map  of  France  for  all 
time. 

Sitting  on  the  edge  of  the  bed  the  Lady  Anne 
took  the  hand  Marguerite  stretched  out  to  her,  and 
stroking  it  gently,  said  simply,  "  And  now  tell  me 
all  about  it.  I  long  to  know  why  France  so  lightly 
guards  a  princess  intrusted  to  her  keeping." 

"  It  was  as  Cunegunda  told  you,"  was  the  reply. 
"  She  was  suffering  and  the  leeches  frightened  her. 
She  always  has  been  my  nurse.  When  I  was  a  baby, 
and,  by  the  desire  of  our  subjects,  was  sent  with 
my  brother  to  live  in  Flanders,  my  beautiful  young 
mother — whom  I  can  not  remember — made  Cune- 
gunda promise  never  to  leave  me,  for  she  knew 
that  my  nurse  loved  me,  and  love  can  not  be  bought. 
My  mother,  as  you  know,  was  killed  when  hunting, 
but  Cunegunda  never  forgot  her  promise.  She 
came  to  France  with  me,  and  though  there  are  with 
me  Lady  Ravenstein  and  others  of  my  father's 
court,  I  feel  that  none  of  them  is  so  fond  of  me  as 
she,  for  I  know  that  if  necessary  she  would  give 
her  life  for  mine.  Anne  of  Beaujeu,  Duchess  of 
Bourbon  and  sister  to  the  king,  is  like  King  Louis, 
her  father,  and  she  would  not  scruple  to  take  a  cruel 

55 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

revenge  should  she  feel  so  inclined.  We  both  dis- 
like her  very  much,  and  that  is  why  we  are  anxious 
to  return  before  she  hears  of  our  absence." 

"Did  no  one  know  that  you  had  left  the  palace 
of  Amboise?"  asked  the  duchess. 

"  Only  a  few  of  the  servants,  who  were  bribed  to 
keep  silence.  The  Duchess  of  Bourbon  lately  has 
been  away,  and  I  have  seen  but  little  of  her.  Some 
of  the  other  ladies  have  been  ill,  and  one  of  them 
is  about  to  be  married.  Cunegunda  gave  it  out 
that  I  had  been  attacked  by  some  contagious  child- 
ish malady,  I  do  not  know  what,  and  this  kept  them 
away  from  my  apartments,  and  we  stole  out  early 
one  morning  and  mounting  our  mules  came  away." 

"Were  you  not  afraid  to  go  on  a  journey  without 
any  one  of  authority  in  your  train,  and  with  no 
one  to  guard  you  from  highwaymen?" 

"No,  Lady  Anne.  Cunegunda  loves  me,  you 
know,  and  she  was  better  than  any  one  of  rank. 
She  made  a  little  stuff  gown  for  me,  and  she  said 
that  traveling  alone  and  unattended  we  should 
attract  no  attention,  and  could  go  on  our  way 
unmolested. 

"  I  have  been  quite  happy  during  the  trip,  for  it 
was  all  so  new  and  so  strange  to  me,  and  it  was  so 
pleasant  not  to  be  surrounded  by  people  who  were 
always  watching  me.  But  it  was  my  fault  that  we 
excited  suspicion.  I  went  down  to  the  inn  kitchen 
to  see  what  the  common  people  do  when  they  are 
having  a  festival,  and  I  felt  that  I  must  give  a  gold 

56 


**  And  now  tell  me  all  about  it  "  P^g^  55 


/r'^     I 


V 


AN    EXCITING   DAY   AND    EVENING 

piece  to  the  baby  who  had  been  named  Mary  in 
memory  of  my  dear  mother.  It  appears  that  ordi- 
nary people  do  not  give  away  so  much  money, 
and  that  is  what  m^de  the  company  at  the  inn 
suspicious." 

"And  no  wonder,  you  innocent  little  girl,"  re- 
turned the  Lady  Anne,  smiling.  "A  person  of  the 
station  represented  by  your  dress  would  have  given, 
if  anything,  just  the  smallest  piece  of  silver  which 
is  fastened  to  a  bit  of  leather  to  keep  it  from  being 
lost." 

"  I  am  afraid,"  went  on  the  princess,  "  of  the  con- 
sequences of  our  trip  to  Cunegunda  if  our  absence 
should  be  discovered,  and  as  we  have  been  away 
longer  than  we  had  planned,  I  fear  that  even  those 
who  were  bribed  to  keep  silence  will  think  that 
something  has  happened  to  us,  and  will  feel  it  their 
duty  to  report  our  absence.  Cunegunda  is  afraid  of 
this,  and  she  is  terrified  when  she  thinks  of  Anne 
of  Beaujeu.  But  as  we  shall  go  to-morrow  morn- 
ing, perhaps  we  shall  be  in  Amboise  before  we 
have  been  missed." 

"Indeed,  you  are  not  going  to-morrow  morning, 
my  dear  little  sister  and  cousin,"  said  Anne,  using 
the  term  employed  by  royalties  when  addressing 
each  other. 

"Then  I  am  afraid  that  we  shall  have  a  great 
deal  of  trouble  when  we  do  return,"  said  the  prin- 
cess coldly.  "  Of  course  we  can  not  help  ourselves; 
we  must  remain  here  if  you  command  it,  but  I  can 

57 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

not  see  how  it  will  benefit  you  to  make  us  stay 
against  our  will.  I  had  hoped  that  it  would  be 
different  when  you  had  been  told  who  you  were 
detaining;  I  am  sorry  now  that  I  revealed  our 
secret." 

She  turned  her  head  slightly,  and  a  tear  rolled 
over  her  temple  and  dropped  into  the  meshes  of 
her  bright  hair. 

The  duchess  thrust  her  arm  under  the  child's 
head,  and  clasping  her  affectionately  said,  "  Do 
you  think,  foolish  little  one,  that  I  am  keeping  you 
here  for  spite?  Within  a  few  days  you  shall  set  out 
for  Amboise  with  an  escort  that  even  a  queen  would 
not  disdain." 

"  It  would  avail  us  nothing  to  return  in  royal 
style  if  we  were  to  be  punished  sorely  at  the  end  of 
the  journey,"  returned  Marguerite  dryly. 

"You  shall  not  be  punished.  I  already  have 
sent  a  messenger  to  the  King  of  France  explaining 
your  absence,  stating  that  you  are  in  my  keeping, 
and  that  you  will  return  in  safety." 

"The  King?  Oh,  the  King  would  not  care. 
But  it  is  not  he  who  rules  France  at  present;  it  is 
his  sister,  Anne  of  Beaujeu." 

"  Let  it  be  Anne  of  Beaujeu,  then,"  cried  the 
young  duchess.  "  I  promise  that  not  one  of  your 
golden  hairs  shall  be  touched,  and  that  your  faith- 
ful nurse  shall  not  be  harmed  in  the  least." 

She  rose  as  she  spoke  and  looked  down  upon  her 
guest  with  a  proud  smile.     "  France  will  hardly 

58 


AN   EXCITING   DAY  AND   EVENING 

refuse  a  request  made  just  now  by  Anne  of  Brit- 
tany," she  said. 

"  I  feel  that  you  will  do  what  you  promise, 
though  I  do  not  quite  understand,"  returned  Mar- 
guerite with  a  sigh  of  relief. 

For  a  few  moments  Anne  remained  silent,  play- 
ing with  the  gilt  cords  that  looped  back  the  cur- 
tains of  the  bed.  Then  she  said,  "You  evidently 
do  not  know  that  since  our  recent  conflict  with 
France  a  treaty  has  been  signed  whereby  I  am 
allowed  safe  conduct  to  join  the  King  of  the 
Romans,  your  father,  in  Austria.  I  may  sail  from 
St.  Malo  or  go  through  France,  as  I  choose.  I 
shall  take  the  latter  route,  and  you  and  your  attend- 
ant shall  go  with  my  suite  to  the  nearest  point  to 
Amboise,  where  you  can  travel  the  remainder  of 
the  way  in  safety.  Even  before  I  knew  your  rank 
I  did  not  like  to  think  of  a  dainty  little  creature 
like  you  traveling  over  the  country  with  none  to 
guard  you  but  a  woman  of  the  people,  and  I  was 
going  to  let  you  make  the  journey  under  my  pro- 
tection. But  now  you  shall  ride  by  my  side  on  the 
prettiest  palfrey  in  my  stables,  or  in  one  of  my 
litters  if  you  prefer  it."  And  she  gave  Marguerite 
a  light  kiss  on  the  brow. 

"Oh,  I  am  so  glad  that  you  are  going  to  marry 
my  father! "  cried  the  princess,  with  sparkling  eyes. 
"  He  sent  me  his  portrait  by  the  Austrian  ambas- 
sador, and  he  is  as  beautiful  as  a  knight  of  the  Holy 
Grail.     If  I  were  not  the  heiress  of  Burgundy  and 

59 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

Flanders,  but  only  a  little  peasant  girl,  I  could 
live  under  my  father's  roof  as  other  children  do. 
But  this  happiness  is  not  to  be  granted  me,  for  it 
is  arc-anged  that  I  am  to  be  Queen  of  France." 

*'  Those  in  whose  veins  courses  royal  blood  may 
not  do  as  their  hearts  dictate,"  said  Anne  thought- 
fully. "  But  let  us  talk  no  more  to-night,  for  it  is 
time  for  those  bright  eyes  to  be  closed  in  sleep." 

The  two  girls  embraced  affectionately;  then  the 
duchess  left  the  room. 


60 


CHAPTER    IV 

BROKEN    PROMISES 

After  meeting  "  little  Mademoiselle  of  Austria," 
as  Marguerite  was  called  in  the  court  of  Brittany, 
both  Le  Glorieux  and  Antoine  felt  that  they  would 
like  to  be  in  her  service,  and  that  it  was  to  her, 
the  daughter  of  their  own  Mary  of  Burgundy,  to 
whom  they  owed  their  loyalty. 

The  morning  after  her  arrival  the  princess  sent 
for  Le  Glorieux  and  Antoine  to  come  to  her.  The 
Duchess  Anne  had  seen  to  it  that  her  guest  should 
be  clad  in  a  costume  befitting  her  rank,  and  the 
coarse  gown  of  the  peasant  child  had  been  dis- 
carded for  ever. 

Marguerite  asked  the  two  comrades  a  great 
many  questions  about  the  province  of  Burgundy, 
and  the  jester  told  her  many  incidents  of  her 
mother's  girlhood.  She  listened  to  Antoine's  Bur- 
gundian  songs  with  great  delight,  and  she  expressed 
a  wish  that  both  jester  and  musician  might  accom- 
pany her  to  Amboise,  though  she  said  she  would 
not  be  so  selfish  as  to  deprive  the  Duchess  of  Brit- 
tany of  two  such  merrymakers. 

Cunegunda,  however,  was  not  happy  at  the  court 
of  Brittany.     "  I  wish  that  we  had  been  permitted 

6i 


THE   COURT   JESTER 

to  continue  our  journey  as  we  began  it,"  she  said. 
"  I  am  convinced  that  it  would  have  been  far  better 
for  both  of  us." 

"lam  not  afraid,"  replied  her  mistress  calmly. 
*'  The  Lady  Anne  has  promised  that  we  shall 
return  in  safety,  and  she  will  not  break  her 
word."  But  Cunegunda's  round  rosy  face  re- 
mained thoughtful  and  sad. 

"  Something  tells  me  that  things  are  not  right," 
said  she.  "  I  seem  to  feel  it  in  the  air.  Every- 
thing is  going  too  well  for  us.  Here  is  your  little 
Highness  treated  like  a  very  queen  with  everything 
done  to  amuse  you,  and  both  of  us  so  comfortable 
in  this  beautiful  palace  that  I  feel  that  it  is  all 
too  good  to  be  true." 

The  next  afternoon  Le  Glorieux,  who,  as  has 
been  said,  being  a  jester  was  privileged  to  go  where 
he  liked,  rushed  into  the  apartments  of  the  princess 
with  the  remark,  "Our  Duchess  of  Brittany  soon 
to  be  married  is  listening  to  a  strange  man  by  the 
oriel  window  in  the  grand  corridor." 

"A  jest  upon  such  a  subject  does  not  amuse 
me  in  the  least,"  replied  the  Lady  Marguerite 
reprovingly. 

"By  the  mass!  nor  does  it  amuse  me,  for  from 
the  few  words  I  caught  I  am  sure  it  means  some- 
thing quite  serious  for  you,  little  Cousin." 

"  Please  explain  your  meaning." 

The  jester  replied,  "  I  was  looking  at  those  suits 
of  armor,  in  the  corridor,  worn  by  the  ancient 

63 


**  I  slipped  behind  the  armor  of  a  g'ant  duke"      P^ige  (5? 


BROKEN    PROMISES 

Dukes  of  Brittany.  I  was  counting  the  dents  made 
in  the  helmets  and  corselets  by  mace  and  battle- 
ax,  and  wondering  if  it  paid  to  fight  so  fiercely, 
since,  after  all,  the  time  would  come  when  the 
bravest  would  be  as  dead  as  anybody  else,  when 
I  heard  the  tinkle  of  ladies'  voices,  and  who 
should  come  into  the  corridor  but  Cousin  Anne 
and  Clotilde. 

"  I  slipped  behind  the  armor  of  a  giant  duke  and 
stood  waiting  to  see  what  was  going  to  happen,  for 
the  duchess  was  as  white  as  Dame  Cunegunda's 
cap  and  the  countenance  of  Clotilde  was  screwed 
into  an  expression  I  never  had  seen  it  wear  in  all 
the  years  I  have  reveled  in  the  joy  of  her  acquaint- 
ance. They  waited  for  a  few  moments,  then  the 
door  at  the  other  end  of  the  corridor  was  opened 
and  two  gentlemen  entered." 

"And  who  were  they?"  asked  Cunegunda 
breathlessly. 

"  I  have  not  the  pleasure  of  the  acquaintance 
of  all  the  gentlemen  of  Europe,"  replied  the  fool, 
"and  I  did  not  recognize  them;  but  I  knew  at 
once  that  they  were  Frenchmen,  As  soon  as  they 
had  greeted  the  ladies  the  taller  of  the  two  retired 
to  the  other  end  of  the  corridor,  and  Clotilde,  as 
if  not  to  be  outdone  in  politeness,  withdrew  to  the 
other  door;  but  I  remained  quietly  in  my  place, 
for  I  wanted  to  hear  what  was  going  on.  Why  is 
it  that  people  always  talk  in  such  low  mumbling 
voices  when  one  is  trying  to  hear  what  they  are 

63 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

saying?  I  have  good  large  ears,  and  I  strained 
them  to  their  utmost  capacity,  but  I  could  only 
catch  a  word  now  and  then. 

"  I  know  that  the  gentleman  was  urging  Cousin 
Anne  to 'do  something  she  did  not  want  to  do,  and 
that  it  was  a  plot  against  Mademoiselle  of  Austria, 
for  I  heard  Anne  say,  '  Dishonorable  both  to  the 
King  of  the  Romans  and  to  the  Lady  Marguerite.' 
I  wanted  to  hear  more,  but  Clotilde,  who  I  verily 
believe  was  created  on  purpose  to  make  me  uncom- 
fortable, seemed  to  suspect  that  there  was  some- 
body in  the  place  who  had  not  been  invited  and 
began  to  peer  about  pop-eyed,  like  a  cat  in  search 
of  a  mouse." 

"Well,  continue!  "  said  Cunegunda  impatiently, 
as  the  fool  paused. 

"Let  a  man  reach  for  his  breath,  can't  you? 
That  was  a  long  sentence.  I  felt  that  I  was  not 
safe  with  Clotilde  on  the  hunt  for  me,  so,  keeping 
well  in  the  shadows,  I  managed  to  slip  to  the 
nearest  archway,  and  I  am  here  with  a  whole  skin, 
which  might  not  have  been  the  case  if  Clotilde  had 
spied  me  out." 

"How  did  the  gentleman  appear?"  asked 
Cunegunda. 

"  He  appeared  to  be  pretty  well,  though  some- 
what anxious,"  replied  the  jester. 

"  She  meant  to  ask  you  to  describe  him,"  said  the 
princess. 

"  He  was  not  beautiful,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  could 

64 


BROKEN   PROMISES 

show  you  a  handsomer  man  among  her  Grace's 
falconers  and  could  pick  a  better-looking  one  from 
a  good  many  other  crowds.  Put  into  the  suit  of 
armor  behind  which  I  stood  he  would  have  rattled 
about  like  a  nut  on  the  inside  of  a  drum.  His 
head  was  large  and  his  nose,  instead  of  coming 
straight  down,  as  a  sensible  nose  should  do,  made 
a  curve  over  the  top.  His  eyes  were  big  and 
bright,  and  Nature,  as  if  to  make  an  apology  for 
giving  him  such  a  nose,  had  stuck  a  dimple  in  his 
chin,  which  was  poor  taste  on  her  part,  for  a 
dimple  looks  queer  with  that  kind  of  a  nose.  But 
his  manner  was  so  gracious  that  I  fancy  one  would 
soon  forget  his  ugliness  and  think  only  of  the  real 
man  shut  inside  that  unprepossessing  shell. 

"That  was  a  clever  sentence,  was  it  not?"  asked 
the  fool,  stopping  suddenly.  "  I  did  not  know  that 
I  could  do  it.  I  wish  I  could  always  talk  like 
that." 

"  Did  he  have  a  fashion  of  smoothing  his  hair 
from  his  brow  as  he  talked?  "  asked  the  princess. 

"Yes,  I  noticed  that.  He  held  his  cap  in  his 
hand,  as  a  gentleman  should.  It  was  black,  with 
a  long  black  plume  clasped  in  place  by  a  great 
jewel  that  seemed  to  wink  at  me  as  he  talked." 

"  It  was  Charles  of  France !  " 

"  It  was  the  King!"  exclaimed  Marguerite  and 
her  woman  in  the  same  breath. 

"Because  he  wore  a  jewel  in  his  cap?"  asked 
the  jester.    "  Oh,  fie!  that  is  a  common  fashion." 

65 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

"You  have  described  the  King's  face  and  figure 
exactly,"  said  Cunegunda. 

"  Since  you  mention  it,  I  think  it  must  have  been 
the  King,"  said  the  fool,  "  for  I  now  recall  the  fact 
that  the  lady  addressed  him  as  '  Monseigneur,'  a 
title  not  given  to  common  mortals." 

"  Oh,  what  is  going  to  happen  to  us  now?  "  cried 
Cunegunda,  in  an  agony  of  distress.  "  I  have 
known  all  along  that  something  dreadful  was  in 
store  for  us  in  this  place." 

"Then  it  must  be  a  mournful  satisfaction  to  you 
to  know  that  you  were  not  mistaken,"  remarked 
Le  Glorieux. 

"  Do  not  stand  there  making  senseless  speeches," 
cried  the  Austrian  woman  angrily,  "  but  try  to  help 
us  out  of  our  troubles.  But  why  do  I  appeal  to 
you?  You  do  not  care  for  us ;  you  are  in  the  service 
of  our  enemies." 

The  jester  instantly  became  serious.  "  If  danger 
threatens  I  will  serve  but  one.  I  shall  know  no 
allegiance  but  to  the  princess  of  my  own  country, 
the  daughter  of  my  beloved  mistress." 

Marguerite  smiled  brightly  as  she  said,  "  I  have 
no  fear  that  you  will  not  defend  me  if  it  should 
become  necessary,  Le  Glorieux.  But  I  do  not 
think  the  time  has  yet  come  for  you  to  fight  for 
me." 

"Your  Highness  talks  like  a  baby,"  cried  Cune- 
gunda, "  and  as  if  you  were  a  person  of  no  conse- 
quence!    Is  it  a  matter  of  small  moment  that  the 

66 


BROKEN   PROMISES 

granddaughter  of  the  emperor  should  be  in  the 
clutches  of  Anne  of  Brittany,  who  is  plotting 
against  her  with  the  King  of  France?" 

"  But  why  should  the  King  of  France  plot 
against  me,  since  I  am  to  be  the  queen  and  my 
provinces  will  one  day  belong  to  him?"  replied 
her  little  mistress. 

"Who  can  account  for  the  strange  schemes  of 
great  nations?"  asked  Cunegunda.  "Perhaps 
your  marriage  with  the  King  of  France  is  about 
to  be  broken  ofT  and  he  and  the  Duchess  of  Brit- 
tany will  hold  you  as  a  hostage  to  extract  a  large 
sum  from  the  emperor,  your  grandfather." 

"  It  would  be  cruel  to  demand  a  large  sum  from 
that  old  and  stingy  man,"  remarked  Le  Glorieux. 
"The  gold  of  Frederick  is  as  hard  to  dig  out  of  his 
coffers  as  if  it  were  a  thousand  feet  under  ground." 

"We  shall  not  need  his  money  for  that  purpose," 
said  the  princess.  "My  dear  Duchess  of  Brittany 
will  never  betray  me,  nor  will  Charles  of  France, 
who  is  too  good  and  kind  to  seek  to  injure  me." 

"The  King  is  under  the  influence  of  his  sister, 
who  has  no  thought  but  for  her  own  schemes," 
replied  the  woman  firmly.  "  We  must  leave  here 
at  once!  We  can  escape  to-night  unseen  and  re- 
main in  some  quiet  village  until  we  shall  be  able 
to  communicate  with  Austria." 

Le  Glorieux  sat  down  on  the  floor  and  pressed 
his  hands  to  his  head.  "This  matter  is  enough  to 
puzzle  a  wise  man,  to  say  nothing  of  a  fool,"  said 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

he  dolefully.  "Now,  let  us  look  at  it  as  it  really 
is  and  try  to  straighten  it  all  out."  Holding  his 
left  hand  out  in  front  of  him  and  gesticulating  with 
his  right,  he  went  on.  "This  thumb  is  Made- 
moiselle of  Austria;  this  forefinger  is  the  Duchess 
Anne;  the  second  finger  is  the  King  of  France,  and 
the  third  is  the  King  of  the  Romans.  Now,  Anne 
is  going  to  marry  the  King  of  the  Romans,  whose 
daughter  is  going  to  marry  the  King  of  France. 
But  what  must  Anne  be  at  but  engaged  in  a  plot 
against  the  daughter  of  the  man  she  is  going  to 
marry  in  order  to  make  things  fine  and  pleasant  for 
her  by  the  time  she  arrives  in  Austria.  This  plot, 
so  far  as  I  can  see,  is  one  which  the  King  of  France 
has  no  reason  in  this  world  to  have  a  finger  in,  but 
which  he  takes  all  the  trouble  to  come  in  secret 
to  help  carry  out!" 

"  Do  not  sit  there  tapping  first  one  finger  and 
then  the  other  like  a  great  booby,  but  help  us  to 
get  away  from  here,"  said  Cunegunda  angrily. 
"  Here  is  money  to  bribe  the  groom  to  keep  silent. 
See  that  our  mules  are  brought  out " 

"Stop!"  said  Marguerite,  in  a  tone  of  calm  au- 
thority. "I  have  told  the  Duchess  of  Brittany 
that  I  would  trust  her,  and  intend  to  do  so.  I  shall 
remain  here  until  she  goes." 

"Remain  here  with  your  life  in  danger?"  cried 
Cunegunda,  aghast. 

"  My  life  is  not  in  danger.  I  know  not  of  what 
she  was  speaking  to  the  King  of  France,  nor  how 

68 


BROKEN   PROMISES 

Le  Glorieux  may  have  misunderstood  her,  but 
whatever  it  is,  my  life  is  not  in  peril  while  I  am 
beneath  the  roof  of  Anne  of  Brittany.  Therefore 
I  will  not  steal  away  in  the  night  like  a  criminal. 
She  has  said  that  not  one  hair  of  my  head  shall 
be  touched,  and  she  will  not  be  faithless  to  her 
promise.  There  is  nothing  for  us  to  do  but  to 
keep  silent  and  wait." 

"  And  those  two  are  the  hardest  things  in  this 
world  to  do,"  said  the  fool.  "To  wait  is  worse 
than  the  toothache,  to  keep  silent  is  worse  than  the 
plague,  but  put  the  two  together  and  they  are 
enough  to  destroy  life  and  reason." 

At  supper  the  question  of  the  significance  of 
dreams  came  up,  all  discussing  it  in  an  animated 
manner  save  the  Lady  Anne,  who  toyed  with  her 
wineglass,  often  gazing  down  into  it  as  if  trying 
to  read  her  future  in  its  ruby  depths.  Le  Glorieux 
sat  on  a  low  stool  at  her  side,  making  a  remark 
when  he  felt  so  inclined,  and  studying  her  face 
when  he  was  not  talking. 

"There  are  dreams  which  always  come  true 
for  7rz^,"  said  the  Lady  Clotilde  in  the  tone  of  one 
whose  word  can  not  be  disputed.  "A  dream  of 
the  dead  is  one  of  great  importance,  as  every  one 
knows.  When  I  dream  of  my  father  something 
of  moment  always  happens.  He  always  addresses 
me  as  '  My  sweet  and  amiable  child.' " 

"All  kinds  of  love  are  blind,"  remarked  the 
jester.     "I  had  a  dream  myself  last  night  that  is 

69 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

of  great  importance,"  he  went  on  with  his  eyes 
fixed  on  the  Lady  Anne's  face.  *'  I  thought  the 
affairs  of  Brittany,  Austria,  and  France  were  a  pack 
of  cards,  all  arranged  smoothly,  with  the  proper 
kings  and  queens  together  and  the  knaves  at  the 
bottom  of  the  pack.  Then  I  could  see  the  knaves 
grow  restless  and  begin  to  flutter,  and  lo!  the  whole 
pack  went  spinning  in  the  air,  whirling  about  like 
dead  leaves  in  the  mistral.  And  when  they  came 
together  again  the  wrong  kings  and  queens  were 
mated;  for  instance,  the  Queen  of  Diamonds  was 
paired  with  the  King  of  Clubs!" 

A  wave  of  color  swept  over  the  fair  face  of  the 
duchess,  but  she  said  calmly,  "  It  is  said  that 
dreams  go  by  contraries,  Fool;  therefore  yours 
signifies  that  the  kings  will  find  their  proper 
queens." 

But  the  Lady  Clotilde,  as  the  jester  afterward 
said,  "  pinned  him  with  her  eye,"  and  later  she 
said  in  his  ear,  "I  heard  a  'fluttering'  behind  the 
armor  this  afternoon  that  was  not  cards,  for  with 
it  was  a  faint  jingle  of  bells." 

"  It  must  have  been  a  dream,  Cousin  Clotilde,'* 
he  returned  boldly,  but  he  gnashed  his  teeth  as  he 
thought,  "  Those  wretched  bells  have  betrayed  me, 
though  I  put  up  my  hands  and  muffled  them." 

It  was  late  on  the  following  morning  when  the 
watchman  blew  his  horn,  and  when  the  Lady  Mar- 
guerite woke  it  seemed  to  her  that  the  palace  was 
unusually  quiet.     She  threw  her  arms  over  her 

70 


BROKEN   PROMISES 

head  and  smiled  happily  as  one  who  has  pleasant 
anticipations,  for  a  new  game  in  the  courtyard  had 
been  promised  and  it  was  of  that  she  had  thought 
upon  wakening. 

The  Lady  Clotilde  entered,  followed  by  a  tiring 
woman.  "Her  Grace,  the  Duchess  of  Brittany, 
bade  me  tell  your  Highness  that  she  was  obliged 
to  depart  early  this  morning  for  reasons  which  she 
can  not  at  present  explain,"  said  Lady  Clotilde. 
"A  proper  escort  has  been  provided  for  you.  I 
shall  take  charge  of  you,  and  in  two  days  we  shall 
start  for  Amboise." 

"The  Duchess  of  Brittany  has  gone  to  join  my 
father  without  a  word  of  farewell  to  me?"  cried 
the  princess,  in  astonishment.  "  And  she  promised 
so  faithfully  that  I  should  accompany  her  as  far  as 
possible  on  her  journey!  " 

"A  change  of  circumstances  sometimes  neces- 
sitates a  change  of  plans,  and  one  is  often  compelled 
to  break  a  promise  made  in  good  faith.  Her 
Grace  bade  me  assure  you  upon  her  honor  that 
no  harm  shall  come  to  you,  and  that  you  shall 
return  to  Amboise  in  safety,  and  also  that  neither 
you  nor  your  nurse  shall  be  reproached  for  your 
escapade.  And  now  the  mind  of  your  Highness 
should  be  at  rest.  Moreover,  she  bade  me  say  that 
since  the  jester,  Le  Glorieux,  is  so  devoted  to  your 
Highness  she  has  given  him  to  you.  And  permit 
me  to  say  upon  my  own  account,  that  as  the  singing 
of  the  page  Antoine  la  Fitte  affords  your  High- 

71 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

ness  so  much  pleasure  I  shall  feel  highly  honored 
if  you  will  deign  to  accept  his  services  and  keep 
him  as  your  own." 

"  I  thank  you,"  replied  the  princess.  "  I  shall 
be  delighted  to  have  in  my  service  two  servitors 
who  amuse  me  so  much,  and  who  will  be  as  faith- 
ful to  me  as  I  am  sure  the  Burgundians  will  be. 
And  I  feel  that  I  can  safely  trust  in  the  promise 
of  the  Lady  Anne." 

"  I  begin  to  think  that  my  dream  about  the  cards 
is  likely  to  come  true,"  said  Le  Glorieux  later  to 
the  Lady  Clotilde. 

"  And  I  think  that  for  you  a  tongue  well  behind 
the  teeth  is  the  safest  attitude  to  assume  in  this 
case,"  she  returned  with  a  frown. 

"  That  is  a  strange  piece  of  advice  to  give,  Cousin 
Clotilde,"  he  replied.  "  Do  you  usually  talk  with 
your  tongue  in  front  of  your  teeth?     I  never  do." 

"You  know  quite  well  what  I  mean,"  snapped 
the  lady. 

The  journey  from  Rennes  to  Amboise  was  not 
a  pleasant  one,  for  the  fine  weather  had  been  suc- 
ceeded by  chill  winds,  but  the  litter  of  Made- 
moiselle of  Austria  was  furnished  with  rich  furs 
to  protect  her  from  the  cold,  and  with  her  train 
of  guards  and  attendants  she  traveled  in  a  style 
befitting  a  princess. 

News  traveled  very  slowly  in  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury, and  it  was  not  until  they  had  reached  Am- 

12 


The  little  Princess  continued  to  sob  P^ge  7J 


BROKEN   PROMISES 

boise  that  the  mystery  which  had  so  puzzled  Mar- 
guerite and  her  friends  was  explained. 

The  little  Lady  Marguerite  was  received  in 
great  state  at  the  palace  of  Amboise  by  Anne  of 
Beaujeu,  Duchess  of  Bourbon.  This  princess  was 
a  tall,  handsome,  and  resolute  woman.  Louis  the 
Eleventh  said  of  her  when  he  named  her  Regent 
of  France,  "  She  is  the  least  foolish  of  women,"  for, 
being  crabbed  and  disagreeable,  he  thought  all 
women  more  or  less  foolish,  but  that  this  stately 
daughter  was  the  most  sensible  of  her  sex. 

The  clandestine  journey  of  the  little  princess  and 
her  woman  was  not  alluded  to  by  the  Duchess  of 
Bourbon,  and  one  would  have  thought  that  the 
escapade  of  a  princess  disguised  as  a  peasant  was 
an  event  of  common  occurrence. 

"And  now,  Madame,"  said  Marguerite,  "per- 
haps you  can  tell  me  why  the  city  of  Amboise  is 
draped  in  cloth  of  gorgeous  colors,  and  why  every- 
where is  the  air  of  a  festival  which  I  can  not  think 
is  caused  by  my  return." 

"  Madame,"  replied  Anne  of  Beaujeu  in  even 
tones,  "  a  matter  has  been  kept  from  you  for  some 
days,  for  to  me  was  assigned  the  duty  of  acquaint- 
ing you  with  a  certain  piece  of  news.  It  has  been 
deemed  best  that  the  marriages  between  the  houses 
of  Austria  and  France  and  Austria  and  Brittany 
should  be  broken  ofif,  although  both  France  and 
Brittany  have  appreciated  the  honor  of  the  alli- 
ance.    Therefore,    a   marriage   has    taken   place 

7^ 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

between  the  King  of  France  and  the  Duchess  of 
Brittany." 

"The  King  of  France  and  the  Duchess  of  Brit- 
tany!" exclaimed  Marguerite,  with  flashing  eyes. 
"The  JCing  of  France  was  solemnly  betrothed  to 
me!  Has  the  treaty  of  Arras  been  forgotten? 
And  the  King  of  the  Romans,  my  father,  too,  has 
been  insulted!  Oh,  I  hate  France,  I  hate  every 
inch  of  it!  And  the  Lady  Anne!  Why,  she  told 
me  that  she  was  to  marry  my  father,  that  she  had 
accepted  safe  conduct  to  Austria!  And  her  eyes 
were  so  truthful  when  she  said  it.  Why  should 
she  have  deceived  me  when  I  trusted  her,  when  I — 
I — loved  her  so!  " 

The  wound  to  her  heart  was  greater  than  that 
to  her  pride,  and,  covering  her  face  with  her  hands, 
the  little  princess  wept. 

"The  Duchess  of  Brittany  expected  to  be  mar- 
ried to  Maximilian  of  Austria  when  she  talked  of 
the  matter  to  you,"  said  Anne  of  Beaujeu.  "  It  was 
but  a  few  days  before  the  marriage  that  she  agreed 
to  accept  the  King  of  France,  an  alliance  which  she 
was  convinced  was  for  the  best  interests  of  her 
people." 

"And  what  is  to  become  of  me?"  asked  Mar- 
guerite. 

"You  shall  be  sent  in  the  state  suited  to  your 
rank  back  to  Austria.  I  beg  your  Highness  to 
take  the  matter  more  philosophically.  I  greatly 
deplore  the  fact  that  you  should  have  been  thus 

74 


BROKEN    PROMISES 

wounded,  but  in  the  great  affairs  of  nations  per- 
sonal concerns  must  take  a  second  place." 

The  little  princess  continued  to  sob,  and  all 
withdrew  save  the  jester,  who,  kneeling  at  her  feet, 
said  gently,  "  Little  Cousin,  when  the  daughter  of 
Austria  is  ready  to  wed,  the  prince  of  a  greater 
nation  than  France  may  be  found  for  her."  Then, 
assuming  a  lighter  tone,  he  went  on,  "  And  a  hand- 
somer husband  can  be  easily  found  than  this  stunted 
king.  And  think  of  it,  little  lady,  you  will  shortly 
see  your  father! " 

"Ah!"  cried  Marguerite,  dashing  away  her 
tears  and  springing  to  her  feet,  while  a  smile  dim- 
pled the  corners  of  her  mouth,  "  I  had  not  thought 
of  that!  At  last  I  shall  see  my  father!  Happy  as 
a  peasant  child  I  shall  live  under  his  roof!  After 
all,  the  good  God  has  been  gracious  to  me  and  has 
granted  my  wish." 

"  And  Antoine  and  I  will  go  with  you,  leav- 
ing the  Lady  Clotilde  carefully  behind,"  cried  Le 
Glorieux.  "  The  Lady  Anne  has  give  me  to  you, 
and  you  see  I  am  still,  in  another  way,  the  Lady 
Anne's  present!" 


75 


CHAPTER    V 

wTHE   WONDERFUL   WISDOM   OF    PITTACUS 

To  go  away  at  that  moment,  to  leave  the  hated 
soil  of  France  forevermore,  was  now  the  ardent 
desire  of  the  little  princess,  but  even  royal  ladies 
can  not  always  do  as  they  would  like,  and  she  was 
made  to  realize  that  some  days  must  elapse  before 
it  would  be  possible  for  her  to  set  out  for  her  own 
country,  where  her  father  and  her  brother  would 
be  waiting  for  her. 

The  chief  delight  of  the  princess  at  this  time  was 
in  listening  to  the  songs  of  Burgundy  as  sung  by 
the  tuneful  voice  of  Antoine.  Anne  of  Beaujeu 
entered  her  apartments  one  morning  when  the  boy 
was  singing  his  Burgundian  chansons.  That  cold 
and  dignified  lady  was  quite  favorably  impressed 
by  the  singer's  talent,  and  requested  him  to  sing  a 
well-known  French  song. 

"  Madame,"  said  the  princess,  "  I  shall  be  pleased 
to  have  my  page  sing  for  you  anything  that  you 
may  fancy,  but  you  will  pardon  me  if  I  leave  the 
room  while  he  sings  of  the  glories  of  France!" 
And  she  walked  out  with  her  head  held  high  in 
the  air. 

Cunegunda  was  now  utterly  happy.  Her  mi- 
graine had  been  cured,  thanks  to  Saint  Roch  or  to 

76 


THE  WISDOM    OF   PITTACUS 

the  change  of  air  and  scene  necessitated  by  the 
journey  to  his  shrine,  and  she  was  going  to  return 
to  her  beloved  country. 

"Ah,  there  is  a  land  governed  by  a  majestic 
ruler,  a  man  who  looks  like  a  sovereign,"  said  she 
proudly.  "But  the  kings  of  France,  pouf!  The 
old  king,  who  was  alive  when  we  came,  looked  like 
an  old  peasant,  with  his  claw-like  hands  and  his 
awkward  legs,  and  the  present  one,  who  in  the  very 
bloom  of  his  youth  should  be  ruddy  and  handsome, 
has  a  large  head  and  is  undersized  and  is  not  at 
all  kingly  in  appearance." 

"  But  let  us  think  only  of  the  real  man  shut 
inside  of  that  unprepossessing  shell,"  said  Le 
Glorieux,  adding,  "There  is  that  clever  sentence 
again ;  I  was  afraid  I  had  forgotten  it." 

"  I  do  not  see  anything  so  very  clever  about  it," 
retorted  Dame  Cunegunda;  "anybody  could  have 
thought  it  out." 

"  Anybody  might  think  out  things,  my  good 
Frau,"  he  replied,  "  but  it  is  the  knowing  just  when 
to  say  them  that  counts.  But  I  have  very  bad  news 
for  you,  and  instead  of  discussing  my  wonderful 
gift  of  always  being  able  to  say  the  right  thing  at 
the  right  time,  I  really  should  be  bathed  in  tears." 

"  Has  something  dreadful  happened  to  my 
father?  Has  news  come  from  Austria?"  asked 
Marguerite,  in  alarm. 

"By  no  means.  Calm  yourself,  my  little  prin- 
cess.    The  King  of  the  Romans  may  be  at  this 

V 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

moment  climbing  the  cliffs  to  surprise  the  wary 
chamois,  or  he  may  be  defying  some  unlucky 
knight  to  mortal  combat  in  the  tournament." 

"Then  it  must  have  been  decided  that  we  are 
to  remain  in  France,"  cried  Cunegunda.  "Oh, 
unlucky  was  the  day  that  we  ever  set  foot  in  this 
unholy  land!  I  might  have  known  that  there  was 
no  such  good  luck  for  me  as  to  leave  it!" 

"Now  you  are  preparing  to  cry,"  said  the  jester 
reproachfully,  "  and  if  there  is  anything  in  this 
world  I  dislike  to  see  it  is  a  woman  with  her  face 
all  wrinkled  up  ready  for  a  boohoo.  Your  face 
is  round  and  rosy,  and  looks  well  enough  when 
you  let  it  alone,  but  ever  since  I  have  become  ac- 
quainted with  you,  you  have  been  ready  to  weep 
at  a  moment's  warning;  you  have  shed  at  least  a 
barrel  of  tears,  and  what  good  has  it  done  you? 
Learn  a  lesson  of  me  and  smile  at  things  instead 
of  crying  about  them." 

"  I  never  should  want  to  smile  had  I  so  wide  a 
mouth  as  yours,"  retorted  Cunegunda,  forgetting 
in  her  indignation  that  she  had  not  yet  learned  the 
news  that  Le  Glorieux  had  come  to  tell. 

"  My  mouth  is  the  right  width  for  a  man  of 
my  height,"  returned  he,  "  and  could  not  be  im.- 
proved  upon.  But  to  return  to  the  matter  in  hand, 
I  will  say  right  here  and  now  that  we  are  going 
to  sail  away  as  soon  as  the  good  ships  can  be  made 
ready  for  us." 

"Then,  what  is  your  news?  be  not  so  long  about 

78 


THE  WISDOM    OF   PITTACUS 

telling  it,"  said  Marguerite,  knitting  her  straight 
brows  into  a  frown. 

"  It  is,  alas,  alas,  that  Clotilde  is  going  with  us 
to  the  domains  of  your  royal  grandfather!" 

"  This  is  news,  indeed.     Why  must  she  go?  " 

"  It  appears  that  the  new  Queen  of  France,  who 
so  cleverly  slipped  into  your  place,  my  little  prin- 
cess, and  caught  the  crown  as  it  was  about  to  settle 
itself  upon  your  golden  head — let  me  see,  where 
was  I?" 

"What  of  the  Queen  of  France?"  asked  Mar- 
guerite. 

"Oh,  yes;  Anne  wants  a  lady  of  her  own  kin 
to  accompany  you  to  your  native  country,  to  escort 
you,  to  watch  over  you;  and  Clotilde,  you  know,  is 
a  relative  of  Anne's,  though  they  are  about  as  much 
alike  as  Pandora,  my  hawk,  is  like  a  meek  little 
dove.  Nature  makes  a  mistake  sometimes  and 
links  the  wrong  people  together  by  the  ties  of 
blood ;  I  do  not  know  why,  but  so  it  is.  I  had  hoped 
that  the  shores  of  France  and  the  sour  face  of 
Clotilde  would  disappear  together  from  my  view, 
but  perfect  happiness  is  possible  for  no  one,  and 
moreover,  I  never  was  very  lucky." 

"  If  the  Lady  Clotilde  is  a  relative  of  the  young 
Queen  of  France,  how  does  it  happen  that  she  has 
lived  so  long  in  Burgundy?"  asked  Cunegunda. 

"My  good  friend,"  replied  the  jester,  "you  may 
have  forgotten  that  sometimes  even  the  sourest  of 
women  have  an  opportunity  to  marry.     They  man- 

79 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

age  it,  I  think,  by  the  aid  of  witchcraft,  and  in 
her  youth  the  sharp  black  eyes  of  Clotilde  capti- 
vated a  Burgundian  noble  who  afterward  was 
killed  in  the  wars,  and  probably  was  glad  of  it, 
considering  the  life  she  must  have  led  him." 

A  number  of  proverbs  have  been  suggested  by 
the  fact  that  people  often  appear  upon  the  scene 
while  they  are  being  talked  about,  and  just  as  he 
finished  his  sentence  the  Lady  Clotilde  parted  the 
curtains  that  hung  at  the  doorway.  She  looked  as 
pleased  as  her  usually  stern  countenance  would 
permit,  and  she  was  accompanied  by  a  boy  about 
fourteen  years  of  age.  This  boy,  afterward  Duke 
of  Savoy,  and  called  Philibert  the  Handsome,  was 
so  beautiful  that  it  was  a  joy  to  look  upon  him. 
The  contour  of  his  head,  his  straight  nose,  and  his 
well-cut  lips  were  as  perfect  as  if  they  had  been 
carved  from  marble  by  the  skillful,  loving  hand 
of  a  sculptor,  while  his  brilliant  coloring,  his  dark 
and  shining  eyes,  were  made  still  more  attrac- 
tive by  the  expression  of  his  countenance,  which 
was  frank  and  pleasing.  For  those  days,  when  men 
and  women  vied  with  each  other  in  the  selection  of 
gaudy  colors,  he  was  quite  plainly  clad,  wearing  a 
suit  of  dark  velvet  with  no  ornaments  whatever. 

"  I  wish  to  present  to  your  Highness  a  young 
relative  of  mine,"  announced  the  Lady  Clotilde. 
"  He  is  Philibert,  son  of  the  Count  de  Bresse  of 
Savoy." 

The  boy  kissed  the  hand  Marguerite  extended 

80 


THE  WISDOM    OF   PITTACUS 

to  him,  and  the  Lady  Clotilde  continued,  "  His 
father  is  an  ally,  as  your  Highness  probably  knows, 
of  the  King  of  France." 

"To  gain  my  favor  it  is  not  necessary  to  be  an 
ally  of  France,"  said  Marguerite  shortly. 

"And  you  are  right,  Madame,"  replied  the  boy 
quickly.  "Were  I  in  my  father's  place  never 
again  would  I  draw  my  sword  for  France,  for 
nations  as  well  as  gentlemen  should  keep  their 
promises." 

This  reply  pleased  the  princess  so  much  that  her 
heart  was  won  at  once,  and  she  smiled  brightly 
upon  the  boy  as  Le  Glorieux  said,  "  And  now  tell 
me,  Cousin  Clotilde,  how  this  young  gentleman 
happens  to  be  of  your  kin.  He  does  not  resemble 
you  in  the  least." 

"  I  am  not  so  sure  about  that,"  said  the  lady. 
"On  the  contrary,  I  think  that  he  looks  quite  as 
I  did  at  his  age,  and  even  now  I  can  trace  a  great 
resemblance  between  his  countenance  and  my 
own." 

"Your  eyes  are  very  sharp,  my  lady,  and  you 
possess  the  gift  of  seeing  things  that  are  visible  to 
no  one  else,"  replied  the  jester. 

"  So  I  have  been  told,"  she  responded,  taking  the 
remark  as  a  compliment.  "  Philibert's  mother 
was  a  relative  of  my  own,  and  this  is  the  first  time 
I  have  seen  the  lad,  who,  young  as  he  is,  his  father 
takes  with  him  to  the  wars." 

"I  wish,"  said   Marguerite  shyly,   "that  your 

8i 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

father  would  ally  himself  with  Austria,  since  you 
no  longer  feel  friendly  toward  France." 

Philibert  colored  with  pleasure  as  he  replied, 
"  Indeed,  your  Highness,  I  should  like  it  of  all 
things,  but  my  father  must  do  as  he  thinks  best." 

"Would  you  like  to  go  to  Austria  for  a  time, 
Philibert?"  asked  the  Lady  Clotilde,  who  seemed 
to  be  in  an  unusually  obliging  mood.  Then  she 
added,  "A  visit  to  a  foreign  court  is  of  great 
advantage  to  a  youth  of  rank,  and  I  will  see  what 
I  can  do  to  induce  your  father  to  allow  you  to 
make  the  journey  in  my  company." 

There  was  no  need  for  the  boy  to  make  a  reply 
to  this  question,  his  beaming  face  and  sparkling 
eyes  being  sufficient  to  convince  any  who  cared  to 
know  that  the  very  thought  of  such  a  trip  made 
him  happy,  and  the  Lady  Clotilde  left  the  room 
with  the  words  of  Le  Glorieux  ringing  in  her 
ears,  ''  She  will  succeed  in  her  attempt,  for  those 
who  do  not  obey  our  Cousin  Clotilde  from  love  do 
so  from  fear,"  a  doubtful  compliment  to  which 
she  paid  no  attention.  She  was  quite  pleased  with 
the  thought  of  procuring  the  companionship  of 
this  handsome  and  gracious  boy,  who,  she  felt  con- 
fident, would  reflect  great  credit  upon  herself. 

"  Oh,  you  will  be  permitted  to  go  with  us,  I  am 
sure  of  it!  "  cried  the  little  princess  enthusiastically. 
"  Have  you  ever  sailed  in  a  ship?  " 

"No,  Madame,"  replied  the  boy;  "  I  have  never 
been  on  the  sea." 

82 


THE  WISDOM   OF  PITTACUS 

"Nor  I,  since  I  can  remember  it,"  returned  she, 
"  but  I  long  to  make  a  voyage.  It  must  be  fine  to 
be  so  far  away  from  land  as  to  see  nothing  but  the 
sky  and  the  foam-capped  waves,  to  be  on  the  dark, 
cold  sea  and  yet  be  snug  and  comfortable." 

"  Once  when  I  was  a  boy  I  made  a  trip  on  the 
sea,"  remarked  Le  Glorieux,  "  and  I  remember 
that  there  were  times  when  I  was  not  so  snug  and 
comfortable  as  I  could  have  wished.  Believe  me, 
my  little  princess,  you  would  be  much  happier 
traveling  on  land  this  time  of  year  than  you  would 
be  out  on  the  stormy  seas.  But  France  will  send 
you  home  in  whatever  way  it  best  pleases  her,  and 
we  shall  have  but  little  to  say  about  it." 

And  it  so  happened  that  it  was  deemed  best  to 
send  the  little  princess  back  to  her  father  by  land 
instead  of  intrusting  her  to  the  sea.  This  was  a  dis- 
appointment to  Marguerite,  though  she  was  glad  to 
know  that  they  were  to  start  at  once.  Already  the 
palace  of  Amboise  was  being  refitted  and  refur- 
nished in  a  style  of  great  magnificence  for  the  new 
queen,  who  would  not  come  to  occupy  it  until  after 
her  coronation  at  St.  Denis.  There  was  an  at- 
mosphere of  joy  throughout  the  kingdom  in  antici- 
pation of  the  new  regime,  which  was  expected 
to  be  very  different  from  the  terrible  days  of  the 
previous  reign. 

Lady  Clotilde,  who,  as  the  jester  had  remarked, 
always  managed  in  some  way  to  get  what  she 
wanted,   succeeded  in   persuading  the   Count   de 

83 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

Bresse  to  allow  his  son  to  accompany  her  to  Austria, 
and  it  was  with  light  hearts  that  the  party  set  out  on 
the  journey,  for  a  trip  that  has  something  pleasant 
at  the  end  of  it  is  always  begun  joyously,  and  there 
is  ever  a  feeling  of  exhilaration  in  the  thought  of 
seeing  a  new  country.  To  the  little  princess  her 
native  land  would  be  as  an  unknown  country,  for 
to  her  it  was  not  even  a  memory.  Not  for  a 
moment  did  she  forget  her  grudge  against  France. 
At  the  first  stop  they  made,  when  a  glass  of  wine 
was  offered  her  with  an  apology  for  its  sourness,  she 
said  with  a  curl  of  her  red  lips,  "  Even  the  wine  is 
sour  in  a  country  that  can  not  keep  its  promises." 
And  the  day  they  passed  through  Arras,  the  town 
where  the  treaty  was  concluded  that  was  to  unite 
her  to  Charles,  and  the  people  ran  out  with  cries 
of  greeting,  she  turned  her  head  away  with  a  con- 
temptuous reply. 

As  soon  as  they  crossed  the  line  that  divided 
France  from  Flanders,  Le  Glorieux  put  spurs  to 
his  steed  and  advanced  to  the  side  of  the  litter  in 
which  the  princess  was  seated. 

"  Little  Cousin,"  said  he.  The  curtains  were 
parted  and  Marguerite's  pretty  face  smiled  at  him. 
"  You  are  now  in  your  very  own  land  of  Flanders," 
said  he,  "  the  country  your  mother  brought  to 
Austria  as  her  dower." 

"And  I  am  glad  to  be  here,"  replied  she.  "I 
could  kiss  the  very  soil  of  the  land  that  is  my  own ! " 

The  jester  now  gradually  fell  behind,  and  once 

84 


THE  WISDOM    OF   PITTACUS 

more  rode  at  the  rear  of  the  procession.  "  Why  do 
you  always  ride  so  far  behind?"  asked  Philibert, 
checking  his  own  horse  to  wait  for  Le  Glorieux. 

"Do  you  want  me  to  tell  you  the  real  reason?" 
asked  the  fool. 

"  Certainly  I  do." 

"It  is  because  I  wish  to  spare  the  feelings  of 
Pittacus." 

"The  legs,  rather,"  laughed  the  boy. 
^  "  I  mean  exactly  what  I  say— the  feelings,"  per- 
sisted the  fool.  "  Do  you  not  think  that  a  donkey 
can  have  feelings  as  wxll  as  a  person?  Of  course 
he  can,"  he  went  on,  answering  his  own  question. 
"  And  do  you  not  think  that  he  is  greatly  humiliated 
in  a  company  like  this?" 

"What  is  there  to  humiliate  him?"  asked  An- 
toine,  who  rode  on  the  other  side  of  the  jester. 

"Why,  look  you,  many  of  the  other  steeds  are 
mounted  by  the  nobility  and  bear  the  richest  trap- 
pings, while  poor  unfortunate  Pittacus  has  nothing 
but  a  common  saddle.  Do  you  not  suppose  that  it 
cuts  him  to  the  heart  when  he  notices  the  contrast? 
How  would  either  of  you  feel  to  mingle  with  a  gay 
company  where  jewels  flashed  and  velvets  shim- 
mered, while  you  wore  the  coarsest  fustian?  " 

"  We  should  not  like  it,  of  course,"  replied  Phili- 
bert, "  but  what  does  a  donkey  know  about  such 
things?" 

"  If  you  should  ask  him  about  it,  you  would  be 
very  soon  convinced  of  the  truth  of  what  I  have 

85 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

told  you,  by  the  reply  that  he  would  make,"  said 
Le  Glorieux. 

"Then  let  us  ask  him,"  said  Antoine,  and  im- 
mediately raised  his  voice,  saying,  "  Pittacus,  do 
you  mind  whether  or  not  you  are  wearing  gay  trap- 
pings? If  you  do,  just  move  your  right  ear."  But 
the  donkey  refused  to  make  a  sign. 

"What  did  I  tell  you?"  asked  Antoine  mock- 
ingly. "  He  does  not  know  or  care  what  kind  of  a 
saddle  you  have  placed  on  his  back." 

"  He  did  not  hear  you,"  replied  the  jester. 

"  I  should  like  to  know  why  he  did  not  hear  me; 
what  are  such  long  ears  for,  if  not  for  use?  " 

"  If  you  will  stop  a  moment  you  will  see  that  he 
will  answer  me,"  said  Le  Glorieux. 

"  He  can  not  understand  conversation  when  he  is 
walking,"  said  Philibert,  laughing. 

"  Nor  well  enough  to  make  a  reply  even  when  he 
is  standing  still,"  remarked  Antoine.  "A  donkey 
is  nothing  but  a  donkey,  and  you  can  make  nothing 
more  out  of  him." 

"  There  are  some  donkeys,  two  legged  ones,  that 
can  not  understand  things  that  are  told  them,"  re- 
torted the  jester,  "but  if  you  will  stop  a  moment, 
you  will  see  that  he  will  answer  me.  Pittacus 
is  haughty  and  particular  in  the  choice  of  his 
friends,  and  he  will  not  reply  to  every  jackanapes 
who  asks  him  a  question." 

The  three  stopped  and  Le  Glorieux  dismounted, 
and  going  close  to  the  donkey's  ear,  he  said,  "  Pit- 

86 


THE  WISDOM    OF  PITTACUS 

tacus,  joy  of  my  heart,  it  makes  you  very  unhappy 
to  see  the  other  horses  dressed  so  gay  while  you  are 
wearing  your  plain  old  saddle  and  blanket,  I  know 
it  does.  If  I  am  right,  just  move  your  right 
ear,  Pittacus."  And  Pittacus  did  move  his  right 
ear,  and  that  quite  vigorously, 

"Now  what  have  you  to  say?"  asked  his  master 
triumphantly. 

"  You  touched  him  with  the  point  of  your  dagger 
and  that  was  the  cause  of  it,"  said  Philibert. 

"  I  did  nothing  of  the  kind.  See,  I  will  ask  him 
the  same  question  again  with  my  hands  clasped  be- 
hind me.  If  you  meant  what  you  said  just  now, 
move  your  right  ear  again,  Pittacus."  Again  the 
donkey's  long  ear  moved  as  before,  and,  mounting 
him,  the  fool  said  with  great  satisfaction,  "  I  hope 
you  will  believe  a  thing  when  you  have  seen  it  with 
your  own  eyes,  and  perhaps  you  will  be  careful  in 
what  you  say  about  him  in  his  presence." 

"  I  do  not  see  that  we  need  to  be  so  very  cautious 
in  what  we  say,  since  he  does  not  seem  to  under- 
stand what  is  said  to  him,  even  by  you,  until  the 
question  is  bawled  into  his  ear,"  said  Philibert. 

"  He  does  not  take  the  trouble  to  answer  unless 
some  one  he  respects  talks  into  his  ear;  in  fact,  he 
hears  no  questions  asked  by  ordinary  people,  but  he 
would  hear  any  gossip  about  himself,  for  all  that," 
replied  Le  Glorieux. 

Antoine  was  very  much  surprised  at  the  superior 
intelligence  of  the  donkey,  but  he  did  not  pursue 

87 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

the  subject  further.  It  was  a  popular  belief  at  this 
period  that  animals  actually  could  talk  on  Christ- 
mas Eve,  and  if  this  were  true,  he  did  not  see  any 
reason  why  they  should  not  be  able  to  move  their 
ears  in  reply  to  a  question  at  any  time  of  the  year. 
But  Philibert,  although  he  kept  perfectly  quiet  re- 
garding the  matter,  suspected  the  truth,  which  was 
that  with  the  word  "  Pittacus "  at  the  end  of  the 
sentence  the  jester  blew  into  the  donkey's  ear, 
which  caused  the  animal  to  move  his  generous 
organ  of  hearing.  He  was  also  convinced  that  it 
was  not  the  sensitiveness  of  the  animal  to  the  fine 
trappings  of  the  other  horses  that  kept  him  in  the 
rear,  but  that  it  was  because  he  was  too  fat  and  lazy 
to  keep  up  a  brisk  pace. 

It  was  a  tiresome  journey,  though  they  stopped 
at  the  towns,  and  sometimes  were  entertained  at  the 
mansion  of  some  noble  family  along  the  route.  Not 
far  from  Cologne  the  princess  called  to  Le  Glo- 
rieux,  who,  though  there  were  plenty  of  attendants 
to  see  that  she  was  comfortable,  was  in  the  habit  of 
riding  forward  once  in  a  while  to  make  sure  that 
she  needed  nothing,  "  I  am  told  that  we  are  not 
far  from  Castle  Hohenberg,"  said  she.  ''Ask  two 
of  the  gentlemen  to  ride  on  and  notify  them  of  our 
coming." 

"May  I  accompany  them?"  asked  the  fool. 
"  Certainly,  if  you  like." 

"And  I  should  like  to  exchange  horses  with  one 
of  the  guards." 

88 


THE  WISDOM    OF   PITTACUS 

"Why?" 

"  Because  my  donkey,  PIttacus,  is  so  sensitive." 

"Sensitive?"  repeated  the  princess,  looking 
puzzled. 

"  Pittacus,  little  Cousin,  is  perfectly  well  aware 
of  the  shabbiness  of  his  wardrobe,  and  to  prance 
into  a  castle  courtyard  caparisoned  as  he  is,  with 
two  other  horses  that  are  well  dressed,  would  be 
more  painful  to  him  than  to  enter  in  a  crowd  where 
he  would  not  be  so  likely  to  be  noticed." 

"Just  as  you  please,"  replied  the  princess,  smil- 
ing. "  One  of  the  guards  will  exchange  steeds  with 
you." 

"  See  the  fibs  your  utter  indolence  and  indiffer- 
ence force  me  to  tell,"  muttered  the  fool,  as  he  rode 
away  from  the  litter.  "  It  is  I  who  am  sensitive, 
and  on  account  of  your  slowness,  but  all  this  does 
not  seem  to  have  the  least  effect  upon  you  or  to 
make  you  go  a  jot  faster." 

Having  exchanged  with  one  of  the  guards,  who 
did  not  seem  at  all  anxious  to  make  the  trade,  Le 
Glorieux  galloped  gayly  away  with  the  two  gentle- 
men, very  glad  to  be  one  of  the  first  to  arrive  at  the 
castle. 

Wrapped  in  his  robes  of  crimson,  the  sun  was 
sinking  behind  the  forest  trees  when  Le  Glorieux 
and  his  two  companions  came  in  sight  of  the  family 
seat  of  the  Von  Hohenbergs.  The  building  was  a 
grim  old  structure,  turreted  and  rugged,  which 
had  seen  two  centuries  come  and  go,  and  seemed 

89 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

able  to  greet  many  more.  Some  youths  and 
maidens  who  had  been  to  the  wood  to  gather  fagots 
were  singing  and  chattering  as  if  the  world  for 
them  had  not  a  care,  though  they  possessed  but  the 
mere  necessaries  of  life.  The  count  and  countess 
had  not  yet  returned  from  the  chase,  so  the  strangers 
were  informed  by  the  haughty  seneschal,  who  im- 
mediately softened  and  almost  groveled  when  in- 
formed that  the  Lady  Marguerite  of  Hapsburg 
was  about  to  honor  the  castle  with  her  presence, 
while  every  being  under  that  roof  seemed  to  be  on 
the  alert  to  put  the  best  foot  foremost,  in  order 
properly  to  receive  the  little  princess.  Even  Le 
Glorieux  was  treated  with  a  degree  of  deference 
that  caused  him  to  throw  back  his  shoulders  and 
strut  about  with  a  great  deal  of  pride. 

Soon  the  sound  of  a  hunting  horn  was  heard,  and 
a  company  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  dashed  through 
the  gate  with  hawks  on  their  wrists  and  followed 
by  hounds.  They  seemed  more  quiet  and  less 
happy  than  the  fagot-gatherers,  Le  Glorieux 
thought,  and  he  wondered  if  they  were  really  as 
happy  as  those  young  people  who  were  working 
for  their  daily  bread. 

The  Count  and  Countess  Von  Hohenberg  were 
very  pleasant  elderly  people,  with  a  large  family  of 
sons  and  daughters,  and  a  number  of  relatives  who 
always  lived  with  them,  so  their  household  was  a 
very  large  one.  They  were  charmed  to  hear  of  the 
unexpected  arrival  of  the  princess,  who  with  her 

90 


Some  youths  and  maidens  had  been  to  the  woods      P^g^  QQ 


THE  WISDOM    OF  PITTACUS 

suite  soon  rode  through  the  gates  and  received  a 
hearty  welcome.  A  bright  fire  was  snapping  in  the 
broad  fireplace  of  the  great  hail,  and  did  its  part  in 
cheering  the  fatigued  and  chilled  travelers.  The 
guests  were  conducted  to  their  rooms,  which,  if  they 
did  not  contain  the  luxuries  afforded  by  the  sleep- 
ing apartments  in  the  mansions  of  the  rich  of  the 
present  day,  were  at  least  comfortable,  though  the 
huge  beds,  with  their  ghostly  hangings,  looked  as  if 
they  might  invite  the  nightmare. 

It  was  a  merry  company  which  surrounded  the 
supper  table,  where  Marguerite  was,  of  course, 
given  the  seat  of  honor.  Great  indignation  was  ex- 
pressed at  the  double  insult  offered  their  country  by 
France.  "  I  have  heard,"  said  the  count,  "  that 
Austria  has  taken  up  an  alliance  with  England  and 
Spain,  so  France  may  learn  to  fear  the  house  of 
Hapsburg  and  its  powerful  friends." 

"And  France  is  no  longer  governed  by  the  sly 
and  scheming  Louis,  but  by  the  weakling 
Charles,"  said  one  of  the  gentlemen. 

"  I  think  you  are  wrong  to  call  Charles  a  weak- 
ling," remarked  Le  Glorieux,  who  was  sitting  on  a 
low  stool  at  the  side  of  his  mistress,  with  his  plate 
in  his  lap.  "  Charles  has  a  dimple  in  his  chin, 
which  may  mean  weakness,  but  he  also  has  a  nose 
of  great  size,  which  may  mean  anything  that  is  bad 
for  his  neighbors." 

Just  as  he  finished  this  speech  a  mournful  shriek 
was  heard  outside,  which  very  nearly  made  the 

91 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

fool  drop  his  plate.  "What  was  that  horrible 
noise?"  he  gasped. 

"  It  was  only  the  wind  whistling  about  the  tur- 
rets," replied  the  count,  laughing.  "The  night  is 
growing  colder  and  the  wind  is  rising." 

"  I  thought  it  was  the  wail  of  a  witch,"  said  the 
jester. 

"  Send  for  Antoine  that  he  may  sing  the  witch 
song  he  gave  us  one  night  in  Rennes,"  said  the  Lady 
Marguerite.     "  It  is  lilce  the  howl  of  the  wind." 

A  servant  was  sent  to  fetch  the  boy,  who  came 
with  his  lute  and  took  a  seat  by  the  fire,  where  he 
sang  the  witch  song  to  such  words  as  suited  his 
fancy,  for  he  was  not  playing  a  joke  upon  his  friend 
as  when  he  had  sung  at  the  court  of  Brittany,  but 
was  now  anxious  to  please  this  merry  company  of 
ladies  and  gentlemen.  He  told  how  a  beauteous 
maiden  with  a  lovely  voice  was  carried  away  one 
dark  night  by  a  witch,  and  changed  into  a  nightin- 
gale, where,  lingering  about  her  former  home,  she 
nightly  poured  forth  the  woes  of  her  heart  in  song. 
This  production  received  such  high  praise  from 
the  listeners  that  Antoine  blushed  very  red,  and  did 
not  know  whether  to  look  up  the  chimney  or  at  the 
floor,  to  hide  his  confusion.  Upon  learning  that 
he  had  set  his  own  words  to  his  own  music,  one  of 
the  ladies  wanted  to  know  whether  the  story  was 
true,  and  if  the  unhappy  maiden  really  had  been 
thus  bewitched.  But  Antoine  was  obliged  to  admit 
that  he  had  not  a  personal  acquaintance  with  the 

92 


THE  WISDOM    OF   PITTACUS 

nightingale  maiden,  intimating  that  the  young 
woman  was  merely  a  creature  of  his  imagination. 
To-day  this  would  seem  a  strange  question  to  ask  in 
all  seriousness,  but,  as  has  already  been  said,  the 
existence  of  witches  and  hobgoblins  was  taken  as  a 
matter  of  course  in  those  days. 

Then  they  began  to  talk  of  the  tricks  played  by 
witches,  and  while  none  of  the  company  could  say 
that  he  or  she  ever  had  actually  seen  a  witch,  still 
almost  everybody  had  a  story  to  tell  that  had  been 
related  by  people  who  had  seen  those  mysterious 
and  treacherous  females. 

"  My  mother  often  talked  with  witches,"  said  the 
Lady  Clotilde  in  that  decided  way  of  hers  which 
seemed  to  defy  anybody  to  doubt  her  word.  "  And 
they  caused  her  a  great  deal  of  annoyance,"  she 
went  on.  "  One  day  when  my  mother  was  fasten- 
ing a  veil  to  her  cap,  a  witch  suddenly  appeared 
and  said,  'Oh,  what  a  pretty  cap!  And  that  lace 
is  as  delicate  as  frostwork!  Let  me  try  it  on,  do!' 
And  before  my  mother  could  say  'yes'  or  'no,'  the 
witch  had  snatched  the  cap  and  put  it  on  her  head, 
and  with  a  shrill  laugh  vanished  through  the  key- 
hole!" 

"  How  did  she  get  the  cap  through  the  keyhole? '"' 
asked  Le  Glorieux. 

"That  is  no  more  wonderful  than  getting  herself 
through  the  keyhole,  is  it?  "  asked  the  lady  tartly, 
annoyed  by  the  query. 

"No,"  returned  the  fool,  "  I  do  not  think  it  is." 

93 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

''Then  do  not  interrupt  with  silly  questions," 
said  she. 

"  I  can  tell  a  story  of  something  that  happened 
over  a  hundred  years  ago,  in  this  very  house,  to  one 
of  my^  husband's  ancestors,"  said  the  countess. 
Everybody  shivered  v^ith  expectancy,  while  the 
wind  outside  howled  louder  than  ever;  Antoine 
turned  his  back  to  the  fire  so  that  it  would  not  be 
convenient  for  anything  to  grab  him  from  that 
direction,  while  even  Philibert,  who  was  two  years 
older,  and  who  sat  beside  the  countess,  regretted 
vaguely  that  the  dagger  at  his  side  would  be  of  no 
avail  against  witches.  For  it  seemed  that  if  such 
creatures  ever  would  feel  an  inclination  to  meddle 
with  the  affairs  of  mortals,  this  old  castle  with  its 
vast  rooms  and  dark  corners  would  be  the  scene  of 
their  liveliest  performances. 

"As  I  said,"  began  the  countess,  "it  was  a  hun- 
dred years  ago.  The  Lady  lolantha,  whose  father 
and  brothers  had  all  been  killed  in  the  wars,  lived 
here  alone.  She  was  the  most  beautiful  woman  of 
her  time,  and  she  was  betrothed  to  her  cousin. 
Count  Wolfgang,  who  had  inherited  the  title  with- 
out the  wealth,  for  the  money  all  had  come  from 
her  mother's  side  of  the  house,  and  there  was 
nothing  left  for  the  count  but  the  empty  castle, 
which  he  scorned  to  take  unless  the  lady  should 
come  with  it. 

"  lolantha,  who  was  willful,  detested  her  cousin, 
having  bestowed  her  affections  upon  a  wandering 

94 


THE   WISDOM    OF   PITTACUS 

minstrel  by  the  name  of  Rudolph  Eberhard,  a 
handsome  youth,  and  one  who  sang  in  a  most 
charming  voice.  He  lingered  here  day  after  day, 
and  sang  so  many  songs  in  praise  of  her  beauty  that 
she  determined  to  marry  him,  come  what  would. 
Wolfgang  was  not  a  man  to  win  the  heart  of  a 
maiden,  for,  though  young,  he  had  a  dark,  forbid- 
ding countenance,  and  a  harsh,  discordant  voice. 
Every  one  feared  him,  and  it  was  believed  by  many 
that  he  was  in  league  with  evil  spirits." 

"A  cheerful  kind  of  an  ancestor,  that  one  of 
yours,"  remarked  Le  Glorieux  to  the  count. 

"But  he  lived  a  hundred  years  ago;  his  blood 
has  been  filtered  away  by  this  time,  at  least  all  that 
was  bad  in  it,"  said  the  countess.  "The  Count 
Wolfgang  knew  that  his  cousin  cared  nothing  for 
him,  still  he  was  determined  to  hold  her  to  her 
promise,  and  he  was  resolved,  by  fair  means  or  foul, 
to  get  the  young  minstrel  out  of  the  way."  The 
countess  now  unclasped  a  girdle  that  hung  loosely 
about  her  w^aist,  with  long  ends  coming  almost  to 
the  floor,  and  held  it  up  that  all  might  see  it.  It 
was  made  of  flexible  silver  fretwork,  and  was  set 
with  emeralds.  "There  is  a  tradition  that  when 
this  girdle  is  lost  by  the  Von  Hohenbergs  their 
luck  will  go  with  it,"  went  on  the  countess,  "  so 
lolantha  cherished  it  very  highly.  One  night  after 
dancing  in  the  great  hall,  a  dance  in  which 
Rudolph  was  her  partner,  the  girdle  suddenly  dis- 
appeared in  a  manner  that  was  most  unaccountable. 

95 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

They  searched  everywhere,  but  it  could  not  be 
found,  and  one  by  one  the  servants  were  accused, 
but  all  to  no  avail.  Then  tauntingly  Wolfgang 
demanded  that  Rudolph  be  searched.  lolantha 
indignantly  refused  to  have  this  done,  deeming  the 
very  suggestion  an  insult  to  the  man  she  loved 
and  respected.  But  without  more  ado  Wolfgang 
walked  up  to  the  young  minstrel,  and  tearing  open 
his  doublet,  found  the  girdle  concealed  on  the  in- 
side of  it." 

"  I  suspected  as  much,"  remarked  Le  Glorieux, 
who,  like  every  one  else,  had  been  very  much  inter- 
ested in  the  story.  "  You  see,"  he  went  on,  "  the 
minstrel  was  dancing  with  the  lady,  and  it  would  be 
easy  enough  for  him  to  unclasp  the  girdle  and  hide 
it  in  the  folds  of  his  mantle  until  he  had  a  chance  to 
tuck  it  away  in  his  doublet." 

''  But  wait,"  said  the  countess.  "  Rudolph  was 
as  much  surprised  as  anyone  else  and  declared  that 
he  did  not  know  how  it  came  there." 

"  He  would  naturally  make  that  very  remark," 
observed  the  fool. 

"But  Rudolph  had  not  taken  the  girdle,"  said 
the  countess  triumphantly.  "The  Count  Wolf- 
gang was  in  league  with  witches,  and  it  was  by  their 
spells  that  the  girdle  had  come  into  the  minstrel's 
possession.  Servants  told  the  story  to  their  chil- 
dren, and  so  on  down,  of  how  that  very  night  they 
had  heard  the  witches  singing  their  wild  songs,  and 
the  old  housekeeper  saw  them  dancing  in  the  moon- 

96 


THE  WISDOM    OF   PITTACUS 

light.  She  said  they  were  dressed  in  a  gray,  mist}^ 
material  like  cobwebs." 

"Did  lolantha  marry  the  minstrel?"  asked  the 
princess. 

"No,  your  Highness.  There  was  nothing  to 
prove  that  the  witches  did  the  trick,  and  she  could 
not  marry  a  man  with  so  deep  a  stain  upon  his  good 
name.  So  Rudolph  marched  away  to  the  crusades, 
and  lolantha  married  Count  Wolfgang." 

"And  she  did  a  sensible  thing,"  said  Le  Glo- 
rieux  decisively.  "  I  have  distrusted  that  minstrel 
ever  since  you  brought  him  into  the  story,  which 
teaches  that  the  man  who  does  a  wicked  thing  is 
bound  to  come  out  at  the  small  end  of  the  horn." 

"Thank  you,  Fool,"  said  the  count,  laughing. 
"You  have  cleared  the  good  name  of  my  ancestor 
and  you  are  the  first  one  in  all  these  years  to  say  a 
word  in  his  favor,  all  preferring  to  take  sides  with 
the  handsome  minstrel." 


97 


CHAPTER  VI 
LADY  CLOTILDE'S  MOONSTONE  PENDANT 

The  next  morning  a  royal  messenger  arrived 
with  a  letter  for  the  little  princess,  and  Le  Glo- 
rieux,  who  was  present  when  she  received  it,  saw 
that  tears  were  rolling  down  her  cheeks  when 
she  had  finished  reading  it.  "What  is  it,  little 
Cousin?"  asked  the  jester.  "Strange  that  a  mere 
piece  of  paper  should  stir  you  up  like  this." 

"  Oh,  Le  Glorieux,"  cried  Marguerite,  "  my 
father  does  not  love  me!  "  And  covering  her  face 
with  her  handkerchief,  she  burst  into  sobs. 

"Well,  now  that  is  another  strange  thing,"  said 
he,  sitting  down  at  her  feet  and  clasping  his  hands 
about  his  knees,  while  he  surveyed  her  thought- 
fully. "  His  Royal  Highness  takes  the  trouble  to 
send  a  messenger  across  the  country  to  tell  his  little 
daughter  that  he  does  not  love  her,  when  it  would 
have  been  so  much  easier  to  let  this  wonderful  piece 
of  news  wait  until  he  stood  face  to  face  with  her." 

The  princess  patted  her  foot  impatiently  on  the 
floor  while  the  jester  was  speaking,  then  she  said, 
restraining  her  sobs  with  an  efifort,  "  I  have  been  so 
impatient  to  see  him  that  I  could  scarcely  wait  for 
the  days  to  pass,  and  every  morning  when  I  have 

98 


LADY   CLOTILDE'S    PENDANT 

wakened  during  our  journey  I  have  said  to  myself, 
'  One  more  day  is  off  the  list,  and  I  am  so  many 
more  leagues  nearer  to  him  than  I  was  at  this  time 
yesterday.'  And  although  the  Countess  Von 
Hohenberg  is  very  kind,  and  has  begged  me  to  re- 
main here  for  a  time,  still  I  wanted  to  go  this  very 
day,"  and  again  she  began  to  sob. 

"Yes,"  said  the  jester,  "I  understand  your  side 
of  the  question,  and  now  I  wonder  if  you  won't  tell 
me  just  what  Max  writes  in  his  letter,  and  I  will 
help  you  to  decide  just  what  he  means  by  it." 

"  He — he — s-s-ays  that  we  are  to  remain  at  Castle 
Hohenberg  for  three  or  four  days  in  order  that  I 
may  recover  from  the  fatigue  of  the  journey.  It  is 
c-c-cruel!" 

"  It  certainly  is  very  cruel,"  replied  Le  Glorieux. 
"Odd  that  there  should  be  such  unnatural  fathers 
in  the  world!  A  man  must  have  a  heart  of  flint  to 
want  his  daughter  to  rest  after  a  long  journey." 

"  I  do  not  at  all  consider  this  a  subject  for  jest," 
said  the  little  lady,  surveying  the  jester  indignantly 
through  her  tears. 

"  Looking  at  the  matter  broadly,  I  should  say 
that  it  was  just  as  much  a  subject  for  jesting  as  for 
weeping.  Will  your  small  Highness  tell  me  what 
there  is  in  all  this  to  cry  about?  Do  you  not  know 
that  it  is  very  foolish  to  cry  about  little  things,  and 
that  the  tears  of  even  a  princess  are  just  as  salt  as 
those  of  anybody  else,  and  if  called  up  in  abundance 
will  make  her  eyes  and  nose  just  as  red  as  those  of 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

a  dairy  maid  who  cries  over  a  pail  of  spilled 
milk?" 

"  Le  Glorieux,"  said  Marguerite  solemnly,  "  if 
my  father  is  as  anxious  to  see  me  as  I  am  to  see  him, 
he  would  write  '  Hurry,  hurry,'  in  his  letter  in- 
stead of  telling  me  to  wait." 

"Would  you  write  '  Hurry,  hurry,'  to  him  if  he 
were  coming  to  you  on  a  tiresome  trip?" 

"Indeed  I  would!  I  would  say,  'Hurry,  and 
hurry,  and  hurry  again,  for  I  long  to  embrace  you.' 
Only  think,  I  have  lived  for  eight  long  years  with 
no  one  near  me  but  Cunegunda  who  really  loves 
me,  and  none  of  my  own  blood  to  touch  my  brow 
with  a  kiss!" 

"  I  do  not  know,"  said  the  fool  reflectively,  "  how 
I  should  feel  were  there  none  near  me  to  love  me 
save  Cunegunda,  but  I  need  not  worry  about  that, 
for  Cunegunda,  if  I  read  her  aright,  is  not  burned 
up  with  affection  for  me;  but  what  you  say  proves 
to  me  that  you  are  not  really  so  fond  of  your  father 
as  he  is  of  you." 

"You  are  dreaming;  what  do  you  mean  by  such 
words?"  asked  the  princess,  wiping  her  eyes  and 
looking  haughtily  at  the  jester.  "  I  adore  my 
father;  he  is  dearer  to  me  than  all  the  crowns  of  the 
world." 

"  It  is  this  way,"  said  Le  Glorieux;  "  as  I  remark 
probably  once  a  day  more  or  less,  I  am  nothing  but 
a  fool,  but  nevertheless  I  say  a  good  many  wise 
things,  and  1  think  a  good  many  more.    Very  often 

100 


LADY   CLOTILDE'S    PENDANT 

when  I  remain  perfectly  quiet  my  silence  counts 
for  a  good  deal,  for  I  am  thinking  very  hard  about 
something.  But  as  I  was  going  to  say,  when  one 
has  the  right  kind  of  affection  for  another,  there  is 
not  a  grain  of  selfishness  in  it.  Your  father  is  just 
as  anxious  to  see  you  as  you  are  to  see  him,  still  at 
the  same  time  he  thinks  of  your  comfort  first  and  of 
his  own  wishes  next." 

''Do  you  think  so,  really?"  asked  Marguerite, 
smiling,  then  asked,  "  But  why  could  he  not  have 
come  to  mx  himself  instead  of  sending  a  mes- 
senger?" 

"  Kings  and  princes  can  not  go  about  as  they 
please,  though  they  are  always  supposed  to  be  doing 
v/hat  they  like  to  do,"  replied  Le  Glorieux.  "A 
king  can  not  even  marry  to  please  himself.  He 
may  say,  '  I  do  not  want  a  wife,  I  prefer  to  be  a 
bachelor.'  The  state  says, '  Not  a  bit  of  it ;  you  must 
marry.'  Then  the  state  picks  out  a  wife  for  him. 
If  she  is  pretty  and  agreeable  he  is  lucky,  but  if  she 
has  a  horrible  squint  and  the  temper  of  a  tigress 
and  the  state  says,  '  Marry  her,'  why,  marry  her  he 
must.  Just  now  your  father  is  probably  cooking 
up  a  lot  of  schemes  against  France  for  its  treatment 
of  you  and  himself,  and  he  is  telling  Spain  and 
England  how  dearly  he  always  loved  them,  and  he 
is  figuring  out  the  lands  that  France  ought  to 
restore  to  him  in  return  for  his  great  disappoint- 
ment, so  he  has  no  time  to  rush  away  to  see  his 
little  daughter." 

101 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

"  Oh,  Le  Glorieux,  you  have  made  me  so 
happy!"  cried  the  princess,  with  shining  eyes. 
"  Then  you  think  my  father  really  is  very  fond  of 
mel" 

"  I  am  sure  of  it,  and  I  am  sure  that  he  will  be 
still  fonder  of  you  when  he  sees  you,  for  two 
reasons:  one  is  that  you  look  a  good  deal  like  him- 
self, and  the  other  that  you  will  look  at  him  with 
the  very  eyes  of  your  mother." 

"The  marriage  of  my  father  and  mother  was  a 
happy  one,  was  it  not,  Le  Glorieux?  " 

"Yes,  little  Cousin,  that  was  one  of  the  times 
when  duty  and  inclination  went  hand  in  hand. 
That  marriage  was  the  best  possible  thing  for  both 
their  countries,  and  the  young  couple  were  in  love 
with  each  other  from  the  moment  when  they  first 
stood  face  to  face,  your  beautiful  mother  being  just 
a  young  slip  of  a  girl,  and  your  father  but  eighteen 
years  of  age.  He  was  only  twenty-three  when  she 
died,  and  he  is  still  a  young  man,  not  so  far  past 
the  first  bloom  of  his  youth." 

The  princess  never  tired  of  talking  of  her  father 
and  of  her  fair  young  mother,  whose  faces  were 
known  to  her  only  from  their  portraits.  Her 
brother,  who  was  two  years  her  senior,  she  often 
thought  about,  but  it  was  her  father  who  possessed 
the  larger  share  of  her  affection. 

It  has  been  remarked  of  the  Lady  Clotilde  that 
she  always  contrived  to  stir  up  some  kind  of  com- 
motion wherever  she  happened  to  be,  and  this  jour- 

102 


LADY   CLOTILDE'S    PENDANT 

ney  was  no  exception  to  the  general  rule.  The 
story  of  the  emerald  girdle,  related  by  the  countess 
the  previous  night,  reminded  the  Lady  Clotilde  that 
she  too  owned  a  jewel  which  was  said  to  bring  good 
luck  to  her  family,  and  the  loss  of  which  was  to  be 
followed  by  results  too  fearful  to  contemplate.  It 
was  a  large  moonstone,  set  as  a  pendant  and  sur- 
rounded by  rubies.  It  had  been  curiously  cut  by 
an  old  Italian  lapidary  of  the  previous  century,  and 
represented  a  woman's  face,  which  seemed  to 
change  its  expression  as  the  colors  glimmering  in 
the  stone  caught  the  light.  This  ornament  had  a 
great  fascination  for  Le  Glorieux.  In  former  days 
when  the  Lady  Clotilde  had  wished  a  special  favor 
from  Charles  the  Bold,  she  often  managed  to  obtain 
it  through  Le  Glorieux,  who  would  first  make  his 
master  laugh,  and  then  while  he  was  in  this  genial 
frame  of  mind  the  jester  would  present  his  petition 
in  the  cleverest  way  it  could  be  framed.  And  be- 
ing too  penurious  to  reward  her  agent  with  a  piece 
of  money,  the  lady  would  say,  "  Le  Glorieux,  you 
may  clean  my  jewels,  for  I  know  it  must  be  a  great 
pleasure  to  you  to  hold  them  in  the  sunlight  and 
see  them  flash,"  and,  while  pretending  to  grant  a 
favor  to  the  jester,  managed  to  gain  one  for  herself. 
Of  all  her  trinkets,  and  she  had  many  and 
valuable  ones,  none  so  charmed  the  fool  as  the 
moonstone  pendant.  Held  in  certain  lights,  the 
face  seemed  to  dimple  and  smile  upon  him;  in 
Others,  it  was  the  face  of  a  witch,  or  a  gorgon,  those 

103 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

dreadful  beings  the  very  sight  of  which  would  turn 
mortals  into  stone. 

This  ornament  the  Lady  Clotilde  was  resolved  to 
show  to  the  countess,  and  descant  on  its  history  and 
its  great  value.  With  eager  hands  she  unlocked 
the  box  of  scented  wood  where  the  ornament  was 
kept,  and  lo,  the  pendant  was  missing!  Could  she 
believe  her  eyes?  In  an  agony  of  anxiety  she  tossed 
the  jewels  about,  finally  emptying  the  contents  of 
the  casket  on  the  bed,  where  they  flashed  and  glim- 
mered like  captive  stars  sending  forth  red,  blue, 
and  green  lights.  Frantically  she  picked  them  up 
one  by  one  and  shook  them,  but  no  moonstone  was 
there! 

"  It  is  gone,  it  is  gone!"  groaned  the  Lady  Clo- 
tilde; then  she  sank  to  the  floor  and  began  to  think 
of  the  many  terrible  things  that  might  be  expected 
to  happen  to  that  unlucky  member  of  the  family 
who  should  allow  the  stone  to  go  out  of  his  or  her 
possession,  the  very  thought  of  v/hich  made  her 
tremble  with  terror.  Calming  herself  at  last,  she 
reflected  that  some  one  m.ust  have  taken  the  pend- 
ant, since  such  articles  do  not  rise  of  their  own 
accord,  climb  out  of  their  boxes,  and  go  swaggering 
about  the  world  like  a  knight  in  search  of  adven- 
ture. And  now  the  question  was,  who  had  taken 
it?  She  was  sure  that  none  but  her  own  attendants 
had  been  near  her  room,  but  stay!  a  maid  belonging 
to  the  countess  had  entered  the  room  shortly  after 
their  arrival  to  bring  a  cup  of  hot  mulled  wine 

104 


It  is  gone,  it  is  gone  !  "  groaned  the  Lady  Clotilde 

Page  104 


LADY  CLOTILDE'S   PENDANT 

which  the  Lady  Clotilde  always  required,  or  de- 
sired, which  amounted  to  the  same  thing  with  her, 
after  a  journey  in  cold  weather.  She  remembered 
that  she  had  opened  the  casket  and  was  just  about 
to  take  out  her  ruby  chain,  which  she  considered  a 
most  becoming  ornament  for  her  more  than  gener- 
ous length  of  neck,  when  the  maid  entered  with  the 
wine,  and  the  girl  must  have  slipped  the  moon- 
stone from  the  box  while  the  lady  was  sipping  the 
contents  of  the  cup.  She  recalled  the  appearance 
of  the  maid,  a  pale  young  creature  with  large 
startled  dark  eyes.  She  no  doubt  had  thought  that 
among  so  many  handsome  trinkets  the  loss  of  one 
never  would  be  noticed  by  this  rich  and  noble  lady. 
The  minx  would  find  herself  mistaken,  however, 
for  the  Lady  Clotilde  was  determined  to  report  her 
loss  at  once,  and  to  recover  her  property  if  it  should 
become  necessary  to  tear  the  castle  down,  stone  by 
stone,  in  order  to  find  it! 

As  it  never  had  been  her  custom  to  delay  after 
making  a  plan,  she  immediately  stalked  down  the 
stone  steps  leading  to  the  floor  below,  and  enter- 
ing the  salon  where  the  countess  and  her  guests 
were  whiling  away  the  time  at  cards  or  with  their 
embroidery,  she  advanced  at  once  to  her  hostess. 
"  Madame,"  said  she,  "  I  have  lost  a  jewel.  A 
valuable  heirloom  which  has  been  in  my  possession, 
or  rather  in  that  of  my  family,  for  a  hundred  years, 
has  disappeared  from  my  casket." 

"  I  am  deeply  grieved  to  hear  it,  Madame,"  said 

105 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

the  countess,  rising  to  her  feet,  "  and  I  sincerely 
hope  that  you  will  be  so  fortunate  as  to  find  it 
again." 

"  I  will  be  so  fortunate  as  to  find  it  again — I  will, 
I  will  in  spite  of  everything,"  replied  the  Lady 
Clotilde  excitedly. 

"  Pray  calm  yourself.  Cousin  Clotilde,"  said  Le 
Glorieux,  who  was  lounging  in  the  window  seat. 
"Try  to  collect  yourself,  else  I  am  afraid  you  will 
go  into  a  fit.  The  veins  in  your  forehead  are  as  big 
as  my  smallest  finger,  and  you  are  quite  purple  in 
the  face." 

"  Anything  that  we  can  do  to  recover  your  jewel 
for  you  shall  be  done  most  gladly,  Madame,"  said 
the  countess.  "  I  will  send  servants  to  your  apart- 
ments to  search  for  it." 

*'  There  have  been  too  many  of  your  servants  in 
my  apartments  already,"  retorted  the  other  rudely. 
"I  want  no  searching  there;  I  want  the  culprit 
searched  and  brought  to  justice  as  quickly  as 
possible." 

''  Most  assuredly,  if  we  can  discover  who  the  cul- 
prit is." 

"  I  know  who  it  is,"  cried  the  Lady  Clotilde.  "  It 
is  that  pale  creature  who  came  yesterday  afternoon 
with  my  mulled  wine,  a  girl  with  big  dark  eyes." 

"  Oh,  that  was  Cimburga ;  she  would  not  rob  you 
of  your  gems,  Madame.  She  is  an  orphan  whose 
parents  and  grandparents  died  in  our  service.  She 
can  be  thoroughly  trusted.     Without  counting  it,  I 

io6 


LADY   CLOTILDE'S    PENDANT 

should  not  be  afraid  to  leave  a  lapful  of  gold  in  her 
care." 

"Your  confidence  does  but  little  honor  to  your 
judgment,  Madame,"  said  the  injured  one,  "  and 
what  I  have  lost  is  of  far  more  consequence  than  a 
lapful  of  gold." 

Le  Glorieux  left  his  place  in  the  window  and 
came  forward,  saying,  "  You  seem  to  be  in  a  terribh 
state  of  mind,  Cousin  Clotilde;  I  have  not  seen  you 
in  such  agitation  since  the  news  came  to  Burgundy 
of  the  battle  of  Nancy.  What  is  the  gewgaw 
which  you  seem  to  have  valued  as  life  itself?  " 

"  It  was  the  moonstone  pendant.  You  know 
what  it  means  to  me  to  lose  it." 

"  What,  the  carved  lady  who  winks  her  eyes 
while  you  look  at  her?  " 

The  Lady  Clotilde  nodded. 

"This  is  indeed  serious,"  remarked  the  jester. 
"  If  you  but  knew,  Madame  Countess,  of  the  awful 
things  written  down  to  happen  to  the  last  possessor 
of  that  stone,  you  would  be  chilled  to  the  bone. 
Why,  death  by  slow  strangulation  would  be  a 
pleasure  to  some  of  the  tortures  she  will  suffer  if 
she  does  not  find  it  again." 

"  Some,  in  fact  most,  of  those  old  traditions  are 
mere  myths,"  said  the  countess  reassuringly. 

"You  do  not  consider  them  myths  when  they 
are  connected  with  your  girdle,"  returned  Lady 
Clotilde  tartly. 

"At  any  rate  the  article  must  be  found  if  possi- 

1.07 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

ble,"  said  the  countess.  "Are  you  very  sure, 
Madame,  that  you  had  it  when  you  came  here?  " 

"  Of  course  I  am  sure  that  I  had  it  when  I  came 
here!  Since  we  left  Amboise  no  one  has  touched 
my  valuables  save  myself." 

"  If  you  are  sure  of  that,  then,  no  one  is  to  blame 
for  having  mislaid  it  save  yourself,"  said  the  jester. 

"It  has  not  been  mislaid;  it  has  been  stolen," 
cried  the  Lady  Clotilde  in  the  highest  key  of  indig- 
nation.   "  I  heard  that  black-eyed  girl  take  it." 

"You  mean  Cimburga?  "  asked  the  countess. 

"  If  that  is  what  you  call  her,  yes." 

"That  girl  would  not  steal,"  said  Le  Glorieux. 
"  I  watched  her  this  morning  while  she  was  feeding 
the  doves.  They  ate  from  her  hand  and  perched 
on  her  shoulders,  and  she  laughed  like  a  little  child. 
She  is  as  innocent  as  the  doves  themselves." 

"  What  do  you  know  about  it?"  asked  the  Lady 
Clotilde.  "  There  is  no  subject  in  this  world  about 
which  you  do  not  give  your  opinion." 

"Why  not,  since  I  have  plenty  of  opinions  and 
all  are  welcome  to  them?" 

"  I  tell  you  that  black-eyed  girl  is  the  one  who 
stole  my  jewel ! " 

"  Pray  calm  yourself, my  dear  lady,  and  let  us  get 
at  the  bottom  of  this  affair,"  said  the  countess  sooth- 
ingly. "You  say  that  you  heard  Cimburga  take 
the  ornament.  Was  it  in  the  night?  If  so,  you 
may  have  been  dreaming." 

"  Suppose  it  had  been  in  the  night,  the  fact  that 

io8 


LADY   CLOTILDE'S   PENDANT 

my  pendant  is  missing  would  show  that  I  was  not 
dreaming,  would  it  not?  "  asked  the  Lady  Clotilde 
with  some  reason.  "  But  I  was  not  asleep;  on  the 
contrary,  it  was  while  I  was  drinking  my  hot  wine 
with  the  girl  waiting  that  my  valuable  disap- 
peared." The  idea  that  Cimburga  had  robbed  her 
was  now  so  thoroughly  fixed  in  the  lady's  mind  that 
she  was  almost  ready  to  assert  that  she  had  seen  the 
girl  take  it  from  the  box.  "  I  had  sent  my  tiring 
woman  to  the  bedchamber  of  Lady  Ravenstein  to 
borrow  a  needleful  of  gold  thread,  for  the  trim- 
ming of  my  bodice  was  slightly  frayed  and  needed 
mending.  During  her  absence  I  opened  my  casket 
to  select  the  jewels  best  suited  to  wear  with  my 
change  of  costume.  Just  then  the  girl  entered  with 
the  wine,  which  I  turned  to  drink,  and  I  now  recall 
that  I  heard  distinctly  a  slight  click  behind  me,  as 
the  jewels  would  have  rattled  if  disturbed,  and  to- 
day my  precious  heirloom  is  missing." 

"  It  was  missing  then,  if  somebody  took  it  then," 
remarked  the  jester.  "  But  stay,  can  a  thing  be 
missing  until  somebody  misses  it?  I  shall  have  to 
think  that  out  carefully  some  day  when  I  have  more 
time." 

"  Let  us  say  nothing  to  Cimburga  about  it  until 
we  have  searched,"  said  the  countess.  She  left  the 
room  and  was  absent  for  some  time.  When  she 
returned,  she  said,  "  I  went  to  the  dormitory  where 
all  the  maids  sleep  and  searched  everywhere  and 
all  through  Cimburga's  poor  little  effects,  but  no 

109 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

jewel  of  any  kind  did  I  find.  There  was  a  wooden 
cross  attached  to  a  black  ribband  which  she  wears 
on  Sundays  and  fete  days,  but  that  was  all  in  the 
way  of  a  trinket  that  could  be  seen." 

"'-Is  it  reasonable  to  suppose  that  a  girl  who 
could  slyly  filch  my  property  would  put  it  where  it 
could  be  found?"  asked  the  Lady  Clotilde. 

*'  Is  there  anything  unusual  in  the  girl's  man- 
ner?" asked  Lady  Ravenstein,  one  of  Marguerite's 
suite,  who  had  remained  perfectly  quiet  up  to  this 
time.  "  If  this  be  her  first  offense  she  may  betray 
herself  by  an  agitated  manner." 

"  She  has  seemed  unhappy  to-day,"  the  countess 
admitted  reluctantly.  "  I  stopped  her  a  moment 
ago  in  the  hall  leading  to  the  servants'  quarters,  and 
I  noticed  that  there  were  tears  on  her  cheeks." 

"I  was  sure  of  it!"  cried  the  Lady  Clotilde. 
"  She  was  crying  because  she  was  afraid  she  would 
be  discovered.  I  insist  that  she  be  brought  before 
us  and  that  she  be  accused  of  her  crime." 

"But  let  her  not  be  accused  harshly,"  said  the 
little  princess,  who  had  been  listening  intently  to 
all  that  had  been  said.  "The  maid  may  not  be 
guilty;  but  if  so,  and  it  is  her  first  offense,  let  us  be 
merciful." 

"All  I  ask  is  my  moonstone  pendant,  your  High- 
ness," said  the  Lady  Clotilde.  "And  although  I 
think  she  should  be  severely  punished  for  taking  it 
from  me,  still  she  is  not  my  servant  and  I  have  no 
right  to  insist  upon  her  chastisement." 


LADY   CLOTILDE'S    PENDANT 

A  page  was  sent  to  notify  Cimburga  that  she  was 
wanted,  and  she  came  at  once,  glancing  about  the 
room  to  see  what  there  w^as  for  her  hands  to  do,  for 
she  supposed  that  she  had  been  sent  for  to  perform 
a  task. 

"Let  me  question  her,  Madame,"  said  the  Lady 
Ciotilde,  and  reluctantly  the  countess  consented  to 
oblige  her  guest,  though  she  felt  that  she  could  best 
have  managed  the  matter  herself. 

"What  have  you  done  with  the  locket  you  took 
from  my  casket  yesterday  afternoon?"  asked  the 
Lady  Ciotilde  harshly. 

The  girl,  who  was  pretty,  and  timid  as  a  fawn  of 
the  wildwood,  opened  wide  her  eyes,  and,  gazing 
at  the  questioner  in  surprise,  made  no  reply. 

"  I  say,"  went  on  her  tormentor  in  a  louder  tone, 
"  what  did  you  do  with  the  ornament  you  took  from 
my  box  yesterday?  You  slipped  it  out,  you  know, 
while  I  was  sipping  the  wine  you  brought  me." 

"  I,  lady?  I  do  not  know  of  what  you  are  speak- 
ing," replied  Cimburga,  in  amazement. 

"  You  know  perfectly  well  of  what  I  am  speak- 
ing. You  took  it  from  my  casket,  I  heard  you, 
though  you  may  think  I  did  not,  and  now  where  is 
it?" 

"  I  know  nothing  of  it,  Madame." 

"  Come  now,  that  kind  of  a  reply  will  not  do. 
You  have  my  moonstone  in  your  possession  and  you 
must  restore  it  to  me  at  once." 

"Madame,  I  am  telling  you  the  truth;  I  never 

III 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

have  taken  the  smallest  thing  that  did  not  belong  to 
me,  and  of  that  my  lady  mistress  will  assure  you." 

"  I  can  attest  the  truth  of  that  statement,  Cim- 
burga,"  said  her  mistress  gently,  "but  if  you  have 
been  tempted  by  the  sparkle  of  gems, — and  you 
have  a  girl's  love  for  things  that  glitter,  even 
though  you  are  in  a  lowly  walk  in  life, — if  you 
have  taken  the  lady's  ornament,  as  she  seems  certain 
that  you  have  done,  restore  it  to  her.  And  this 
being  your  first  offense,  I  promise  you  that  your 
punishment  shall  be  light." 

"  But,  my  mistress,  how  can  I  restore  what  I  have 
not  taken?"  asked  the  girl  simply. 

"Talk  about  this  being  her  first  offense;  if  so,  I 
am  quite  sure  it  will  not  be  her  last  one,  for  she  is  as 
hardened  as  one  old  in  crime,"  said  the  Lady 
Clotilde. 

Then  her  mistress  said,  turning  to  the  girl,  "  If 
you  are  innocent,  if  your  conscience  does  not  trouble 
you,  why  were  you  weeping  this  morning?  " 

Cimburga  made  no  reply,  but  putting  her  apron 
to  her  face,  began  to  sob. 

"  Come,  answer  me,"  said  the  countess  gently. 

"  My  dear  and  gracious  mistress,  do  not  ask  me 
why  I  was  weeping,  for  I  can  not  tell  you,"  sobbed 
the  girl. 

"You  might  as  well  tell  us,"  said  the  Lady  Clo- 
tilde, "  for  we  are  bound  to  know  it  sooner  or  later." 

"  I  will  never  tell,  I  will  go  to  my  death  first," 
said  the  girl  desperately. 

112 


LADY   CLOTILDE'S    PENDANT 

"You  deserve  to  go  to  your  death,  since  you  are 
so  stubborn,"  said  the  Lady  Clotilde  vindictively. 
"  But  give  me  back  my  jewel,  and  you  shall  be 
troubled  no  more  so  far  as  I  am  concerned." 

"  I  can  not  give  you  what  I  have  not  got.  I  call 
upon  all  the  saints  to  witness  that  I  know  nothing 
of  the  object  which  you  have  lost." 

"  She  does  but  blaspheme,"  said  the  Lady 
Clotilde  coldly.  "  Let  her  be  handed  over  to  the 
law." 

The  punishment  for  all  kinds  of  crime  was  most 
severe  at  this  time,  and  it  is  no  wonder  that  Cim- 
burga  sobbed  convulsively  as  she  was  taken  from 
the  room. 

This  unfortunate  incident  cast  a  gloom  over  the 
company.  It  was  easy  to  see  that  the  countess  was 
unhappy  about  the  accusation  that  had  been  made 
against  the  young  girl  who  was  under  her  own  pro- 
tection. The  Lady  Clotilde  was  sulky  and  restless, 
while  the  others  seemed  to  be  puzzled  by  what  had 
happened.  When  the  gentlemen,  who  had  been 
hunting,  returned  to  the  castle,  they  were  told  of  the 
occurrence  of  the  morning,  and  most  of  those  who 
gave  an  opinion  were  inclined  to  agree  with  the 
owner  of  the  jewel  that  Cimburga  was  guilty,  even 
the  count  expressing  grave  doubts  as  to  her  inno- 
cence. Cimburga  was  nothing  but  a  servant,  there- 
fore was  more  than  likely  to  be  the  thief. 

"I  wish,"  said  Le  Glorieux  to  Philibert,  "that 
we  had  left  Clotilde  in  France.     I  have  been  ac- 

113 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

quainted  with  her  for  a  number  of  years,  and  I 
have  never  known  a  time  when  there  was  not  some 
kind  of  agitation  on  her  account.  She  is  always 
just  coming,  or  just  going,  or  is  looking  for  some- 
thing that  she  can  not  find,  or  is  doing  something 
or  other  to  make  everybody  around  her  restless. 
She  is  like  a  whirlwind  that  picks  up  leaves  and 
sticks  and  slams  them  about.  I  know  that  she  is 
your  relative,  but  that  is  not  your  fault,  my  lad,  and 
I  respect  you  none  the  less  for  it.  We  should  be 
judged  by  our  friends  and  not  by  our  relatives,  for 
we  select  our  own  friends.  It  is  a  great  pity  that 
we  are  not  allowed  to  select  our  own  relatives  too, 
since  we  are  obliged  to  see  so  much  of  them.  I 
know  plenty  of  people  who  would  have  an  entire 
new  set  of  relatives  if  the  thing  could  be  managed." 

"  Le  Glorieux,"  said  Philibert,  "  I  do  not  believe 
that  the  maid  stole  the  moonstone  any  more  than 
that  I  took  it  myself." 
.  "  I  am  not  so  sure  that  she  is  innocent,"  said 
Antoine.  "  Why  should  she  have  been  weeping  at 
such  a  rate?" 

"Why  should  anybody  weep?"  asked  Philibert. 
"  For  a  hundred  things.  It  is  no  sign  because 
people  have  been  crying  that  they  have  also  been 
stealing." 

"  Let  us  ask  Saint  Monica  if  Cimburga  is  guilty," 
suggested  the  countess  the  following  day.  "Our 
Saint  Monica  is  wonderful,"  continued  she,  turning 
to  her  guests.    "  She  was  placed  in  her  present  posi- 

114 


They  started  out  to  see  this  wonderful  saint      P^g^  IIJ 


LADY   CLOTILDE'S   PENDANT 

tion  by  one  of  the  Countesses  Von  Hohenberg, 
whose  prayers  for  the  reformation  of  an  undutiful 
son  were  answered,  for  you  know  Saint  Monica  her- 
self knows  what  it  is  to  weep  for  a  dissipated  son, 
being  the  mother  of  the  blessed  Saint  Augustine, 
who  was  very  wild  until  miraculously  changed  to  a 
saint.  They  say  that  when  persons  accused  of  a 
crime  are  made  to  pass  before  her  their  innocence 
or  guilt  may  be  proven  at  once,  for  if  innocent 
the  saint  will  make  a  sign,  but  if  guilty  she  will 
remain  immovable." 

"  Has  she  ever  been  seen  to  move  when  put  to 
the  test?"  asked  the  Lady  Clotilde. 

"Never  in  our  time,"  said  the  count,  replying  to 
the  question.  "  In  my  grandfather's  time  it  is  said 
that  a  youth,  accused  of  stealing  a  gold  image  from 
the  chapel,  passed  before  the  saint  and  asked  if  he 
was  innocent,  and  she  raised  her  hand  and  bowed 
her  head.  Many  others  have  tried  it  since,  but  they 
were  all  guilty,  for  the  saint  made  no  sign." 

"We  will  put  Cimburga  to  the  test  to-night," 
said  the  countess.  "The  moon  will  be  bright  by 
ten  o'clock,  and  at  that  time  we  shall  not  have  so 
many  spectators  as  we  should  have  during  the 
day." 

Le  Glorieux  and  the  two  boys  started  out  to  see 
this  wonderful  saint.  She  stood  in  the  forest 
within  a  five  minutes'  walk  from  the  castle,  in  front 
of  a  great  oak.  She  was  a  painted  wooden  figure 
about  five  feet  in  height,  and  she  had  been  scorched 

115 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

by  the  summer  sun  and  pelted  by  rainstorms  until 
her  garments  were  all  a  dull  gray,  her  face,  partly 
concealed  by  her  nun's  coif,  wearing  a  self- 
satisfied  simper  not  at  all  consistent  with  her  garb. 

"  The  good  saint  is  not  a  tall  woman,"  said 
Philibert,  eying  her  critically.  He  walked  all 
around  the  figure,  mounted  a  stone  behind  it,  and 
examined  it  closely.  "  Some  day  she  will  move 
when  they  least  expect  it,"  he  said,  "  for  she  is  not 
secure  on  her  pedestal,  and  a  storm  will  blow  her 
over." 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  a  late  hour  had  been  set 
for  the  visit  to  the  saint,  and  the  matter  was  sup- 
posed to  be  a  secret  carefully  kept  from  the  ser- 
vants, when  the  time  came  to  start  a  curious  crowd 
gathered  and  followed  the  supposed  culprit,  her 
master  and  mistress  and  their  guests,  to  the  statue 
of  Saint  Monica. 

By  Cimburga's  side  walked  a  tall  young  man 
who  was  said  to  be  the  miller's  son,  and  whose 
presence  beside  the  accused  was  viewed  with  con- 
siderable astonishment  by  those  who  knew  him, 
for  his  father  was  well-to-do,  and  his  station  was 
above  that  of  Cimburga.  The  face  of  the  girl  was 
radiant  with  happiness,  and  those  who  observed 
her  tranquil  countenance  wondered  why  she  ex- 
hibited so  little  agitation  at  a  time  when  she  might 
be  supposed  to  be  in  a  state  of  despair. 

It  was  a  very  solemn  procession  that  walked  out 
on  that  moonlight  night.    At  present  there  exist 

ii6 


LADY   CLOTILDE'S    PENDANT 

comparatively  few  people  who  would  expect  a 
wooden  saint  to  move,  even  from  a  motive  so  noble 
as  to  prove  the  innocence  of  an  accused  person; 
but,  as  has  already  been  said,  many  strange  things 
were  believed  in  the  fifteenth  century. 

Even  all  whispering  ceased  as  they  approached 
the  saint.  The  princess,  warmly  wrapped  in  fur, 
was  riding  a  little  mule,  and  as  Le  Glorieux  walked 
beside  her  she  slipped  a  cold  hand  into  his  with 
a  shiver  of  fear,  and  all  stepped  softly  over  the 
frosty  ground  as  if  fearful  of  something,  they  knew 
not  what.  The  wind  swept  through  the  trees,  rus- 
tling the  dry  leaves.  Was  the  saint  already  mov- 
ing? No,  it  was  only  the  shadow  of  a  limb,  which, 
stirred  by  the  wind,  swayed  above  her  head. 

"Hist!"  said  the  castle  chaplain,  though  there 
was  no  need  to  call  for  silence,  as  none  at  that  mo- 
ment felt  in  the  least  like  talking.  Then,  in  a 
solemn  voice,  the  priest  invoked  the  saint  to  deign 
to  decide  the  fate  of  the  accused  maiden  then  stand- 
ing before  her.  Was  she  innocent  of  the  sin  of 
theft? 

He  paused,  there  was  a  breathless  moment  of  ex- 
pectancy, then  Saint  Monica  really  did  move. 
There  was  no  doubt  about  it.  She  bowed  her  head 
and  raised  her  right  hand  I  All  saw  her  do  it,  as 
they  would  tell  their  children,  and  their  children's 
children,  for  years  to  come.  The  priest  murmured 
some  words  in  Latin,  then  all  returned  immediately 
to  the  castle,  for  none  seemed  inclined  to  remain 

117 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

in  the  neighborhood  of  the  saint  who  so  kindly 
had  set  their  minds  at  rest.  All  gathered  in  the 
chapel,  where  a  Te  Deum  was  sung,  as  it  had  been 
sung  for  the  first  time  when  the  son  of  Saint  Monica 
was  converted. 

As  soon  as  the  exercises  in  the  chapel  were  con- 
cluded the  little  princess  retired  to  her  own  apart- 
ments, whispering  to  Le  Glorieux  as  she  passed 
him,  "  Bring  Cimburga  and  the  miller's  son  to  me, 
and  let  no  one  else  accompany  you." 

Marveling  at  this  summons,  and  wondering 
what  the  daughter  of  their  future  emperor  could 
have  to  say  to  them,  now  that  Saint  Monica  had  de- 
cided in  the  girl's  favor,  settling  the  question  of 
her  innocence,  the  young  couple  followed  the 
jester.  The  Lady  Marguerite  had  dismissed  even 
Cunegunda,  and  was  all  alone  when  they  entered 
the  room.  She  sat  in  a  large  chair,  and  in  a  rather 
unprincess-like  fashion,  for  she  had  been  chilled 
in  the  cold  chapel,  and  she  had  drawn  her  feet  up 
under  the  folds  of  her  velvet  gown.  After  the 
young  couple  had  knelt  at  her  feet,  and  had  saluted 
her  according  to  the  custom  of  the  time,  she  bade 
them  stand  before  her,  and  Le  Glorieux  said  with 
great  frankness,  "  I  will  leave  the  room  if  you  say 
so,  little  Princess;  but  to  be  strictly  honest  about  it, 
I  should  like  mightily  to  stay  and  hear  what  you 
have  to  say  to  these  young  folk,  and  you  may  be 
sure  that  I  shall  not  mention  it  to  a  soul." 

"  It  is  not  a  secret,"  replied  the  princess;  "  I  was 


LADY   CLOTILDE'S    PENDANT 

only  afraid  that  they  might  be  embarrassed  by  an 
audience." 

"  They  will  not  be  embarrassed  by  my  presence," 
said  he  quickly,  "  for  a  fool  in  a  room  is  of  no  more 
importance  than  a  cat." 

"You  make  yourself  of  small  account  when  it 
is  to  gain  your  own  ends,  but  stay,  if  you  like,"  she 
returned,  laughing. 

"  And  as  I  do  like,  I  will  stay,"  he  returned,  sit- 
ting down  on  the  floor  beside  her  chair. 

The  young  couple,  standing,  blushing  and 
abashed  before  her,  gazed  with  awe  at  the  little 
maiden,  who  seemed  almost  lost  in  the  embrace 
of  the  huge  chair  in  which  she  sat.  But  when 
they  saw  that  her  eyes  were  soft  and  shining,  that 
her  lips  were  curved  into  a  friendly  smile,  they 
forgot  for  the  moment  that  she  was  of  royal  blood, 
and  would,  doubtless,  one  day  wear  the  crown  of 
a  mighty  kingdom.  A  silver  griffin  of  a  sconce 
near  by  held  a  light  in  its  claws,  which  fell  full 
upon  Cimburga  and  the  miller's  son.  The  latter 
was  tall  and  straight,  with  an  honest,  noble  coun- 
tenance, and  certainly  there  were  many  ladies  who 
were  not  half  so  pretty  as  Cimburga.  The  little 
princess  wondered  why  these  humble  people  should 
be  so  handsome,  and  concluded  that  the  good  God 
had  given  them  personal  comeliness  to  make  up 
for  lack  of  worldly  goods,  for  certainly  the  athletic 
figure  of  the  youth  could  have  been  no  handsomer 
clad  in  velvet  and  satin  than  in  the  plain  garments 

119 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

he  now  wore,  ^and  the  flash  of  jewels  could  have 
made  the  eyes  of  Cimburga  no  brighter  than  they 
were  at  this  moment. 

"Your  name  is  Cimburga?"  said  Marguerite, 
addressing  the  girl;  "  that  is  a  Polish  name." 

"Yes,  your  Highness,  it  is  the  name  of  my 
grandmother,  who  was  born  in  Poland,  and  who 
was  given  the  name  of  the  mother  of  his  Im- 
perial Majesty,  the  grandfather  of  your  gracious 
Highness." 

"That  is  a  mixture  of  relatives  that  makes  my 
head  ache,"  observed  Le  Glorieux. 

"  Then  it  may  be  wise  for  you  to  leave  the  room," 
replied  the  princess  slyly. 

"  If  I  did  anything  wise  I  would  not  be  a  fool," 
he  returned;  "therefore  I  stay." 

"It  is  true,"  said  Marguerite,  "that  my  great 
grandmother  was  Cimburga  of  Poland,  and  it  is 
from  her,  they  say,  that  the  archduke,  my  father, 
inherited  his  great  physical  strength.  And  now, 
Cimburga,  I  want  you  to  answer  my  questions  and 
do  not  be  afraid,  for  no  harm  shall  come  to  you 
from  anything  you  may  say  to  me.  That  you  did 
not  commit  the  crime  of  which  you  are  accused  we 
all  know  now,  and  I  felt  from  the  first,  but  why  had 
you  been  crying  even  before  you  were  accused?  " 

The  girl  dropped  her  eyes  and  a  very  pretty 
color  dyed  her  cheeks. 

"Your  Highness,"  she  faltered,  playing  restlessly 
with  the  cord  that  laced  her  bodice,  "  it  was  because 

120 


"  A  greater  dowry  than  the  weaver's  daughter's      Page  122 


LADY   CLOTILDE'S    PENDANT 

I  was  afraid  that  Karl  and  I  could  never  wed.  His 
father,  your  Highness,  is  a  miller  and  a  man  of 
means,  and  he  wishes  his  son  to  marry  the  weaver's 
daughter,  who  can  bring  him  a  dowry,  while  I  have 
nothing.  And  I  had  reason  to  believe  that  he  was 
ready  to  obey  his  father;  but  when  this  great 
trouble  was  sent  upon  me  he  came  to  say  that  he 
cared  only  for  me,  that  he  believed  in  my  inno- 
cence, and  that  he  would  stand  by  my  side  let  hap- 
pen what  would.  And  after  that,  your  Highness,  I 
was  not  afraid  of  anything  that  might  come." 

"  Karl  is  a  worthy  youth,"  said  the  princess.  "  I 
have  heard  my  good  confessor  say  that  there  is 
nothing  more  beautiful  in  this  world  than  the  love 
that  brings  our  friends  to  our  side  when  fortune 
frowns,  and  that  good  friends  are  the  stars  that 
shine  all  the  brighter  when  night  is  darkest.  But 
it  is  not  right  to  disobey  one's  parents,  and  you 
would  not  wed  without  your  father's  consent?" 

Karl  was  about  to  reply,  when  Cimburga  said 
quickly,  "No,  your  Highness,  but  even  if  his 
father  should  never  be  willing  for  us  to  wed,  it  is 
a  joy  to  know  that  he  cares  for  me,  and  that 
when  all  others  were  against  me  he  still  had  faith 
in  me." 

The  little  princess  now  realized  that  it  is  some- 
times a  great  pleasure  to  be  a  person  whose  author- 
ity can  be  felt.  She  at  once  made  up  her  mind 
that  the  mercenary  miller  should  give  his  consent 
to  the  match,  and  that  willingly,  even  gladly. 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

"What  is  the  size  of  the  dowry  that  this  fortu- 
nate weaver's  daughter  will  be  able  to  bring  to 
you?"  she  asked,  turning  to  the  young  man. 

"  It  is  quite  a  large  one,  your  Highness,"  he  re- 
turned, with  a  sigh,  as  though  he  wished  from  the 
bottom  of  his  heart  that  thethrifty  weaver  had  been 
a  gay  spendthrift  instead  of  having  been  a  provi- 
dent money-saver.  And  he  mentioned  a  sum  at 
which  the  Lady  Marguerite  smiled  behind  her 
hand,  it  seemed  so  small  to  her. 

"  Le  Glorieux,"  said  she,  *'go  into  roy  bed- 
chamber and  ask  one  of  my  women  to  give  you  the 
brass-bound  box  which  will  be  found  in  the  top  of 
the  chest." 

The  jester  skipped  gayly  away  to  do  her  bidding 
and  soon  returned  with  the  box  clasped  affection- 
ately in  his  arms,  and  kneeling,  he  laid  it  on  her 
lap.  She  took  a  purse  from  the  box,  and  emptying 
the  glittering  coins  in  the  chair  beside  her,  she 
counted  the  pieces  as  she  restored  them  one  by  one 
to  the  purse,  which  she  handed  to  Cimburga, 
saying: 

"  Here  is  a  greater  dowry  than  the  weaver's 
daughter  will  bring  to  her  husband.  I  owe  you 
something  because  one  of  my  own  suite  has  brought 
you  so  much  trouble.  I  hope  your  marriage  will 
be  a  happy  one.  Some  day  I  too  must  marry,  and 
a  princess  may  not  make  her  own  choice.  Say  a 
prayer  for  me,  Cimburga,  that  my  betrothal  may 
bring  me  the  happiness  that  yours  has  brought  to 

122 


LADY   CLOTILDE'S   PENDANT 

you.  Petition  the  Holy  Virgin  for  Marguerite  of 
Hapsburg." 

"  Indeed  and  indeed  I  will,  your  gracious  High- 
ness," sobbed  Cimburga,  as  she  pressed  the  hem  of 
Marguerite's  robe  to  her  lips.  "The  sun  shall  not 
set  on  a  day  of  my  life  in  which  a  prayer  has  not 
been  said  for  you." 

Le  Glorieux  rubbed  his  sleeve  across  his  eyes, 
saying,  "  I  do  not  like  salt  water  in  any  shape. 
When  I  sail  on  it  it  makes  me  uncomfortable  and 
ill,  and  it  is  equally  disagreeable  when  it  tries  to 
drown  a  man's  eyes." 


123 


CHAPTER  VII 

A  PLEASANT  SURPRISE  FOR  THE  PRINCESS 

On  his  way  to  bed  Le  Glorieux  remembered  that 
he  had  not  seen  Philibert  during  the  whole  even- 
ing, and  passing  the  boy's  room,  he  pushed  open 
the  door  and  looked  in.  The  apartment  was 
bathed  in  moonlight;  its  occupant  lay  on  his  couch 
wrapped  in  the  unconsciousness  of  slumber.  In 
contrast  with  the  dark  stuff  of  the  cushion  against 
which  his  cheek  was  pressed,  his  features  were  like 
those  of  a  beautiful  Greek  god  carved  in  cameo. 
As  his  visitor  bent  over  him  the  boy  woke  with 
a  start,  exclaiming,  "Oh,  you  frightened  me,  Le 
Glorieux!  With  those  long  points  standing  out  on 
either  side  of  your  head  you  make  a  strange  figure 
against  the  light,  and  I  thought  it  was  the  Evil 
One  with  his  long  horns." 

"  If  the  Evil  One  makes  a  practice  of  calling 
upon  people  who  have  the  cold  and  unfeeling 
nature  of  a  carp,  you  will  not  escape  a  visit  from 
him,  I  can  tell  you,  my  young  friend,"  responded 
Le  Glorieux  sourly. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  asked  Philibert. 

"  What  do  I  mean,  indeed !  Has  it  escaped  your 
memory  that  your  cousin  Clotilde  this  very  morn- 

124 


A   SURPRISE   FOR   THE   PRINCESS 

ing  accused  a  pretty  maid  of  stealing  a  moonstone, 

a  winking,  blinking  face,  and  which " 

"  Of  course  it  has  not  escaped  my  memory,  and 
what  then?" 

"What  then  indeed!  Perhaps  that  same  fine 
memory  of  yours  will  recall  the  fact  that  the  whole 
matter  was  left  to  Saint  Monica  to  decide?  " 

"  I  also  remember  that  fact." 

"  And  still  you  were  not  with  us  when  we  visited 
the  good  saint.  You  did  not  take  the  trouble  to 
join  the  spectators." 

"No." 

I*  When  everybody  about  the  place,  from  my  own 
princess  down  to  the  lowest  scullion,  was  anxious  to 
know  what  the  saint  would  decide,  you  went  to  bed 
and  slept  through  it  all  like  an  old  man  of  ninety. 
I  should  like  very  much  to  know  what  kind  of 
blood  fills  the  veins  of  the  people  of  Savoy! " 

"  Very  warm  and  generous  blood,  I  can  assure 
you,  my  good  fool." 

"  Then  the  supply  must  have  been  running  very 
low  when  you  were  created,  my  little  gentleman, 
and  it  was  necessary  to  weaken  it  with  a  good  deal 
of  water." 

Philibert,  who  had  risen  to  a  sitting  posture, 
laughed  and  once  more  cuddled  among  his 
cushions.  "Listen,"  said  he.  ^'The  great  clock 
in  the  tower  is  clanging  the  hour  of  twelve.  It  is 
the  time  when  witches  come  forth  and  play  their 
tricks.     Be  careful  as  you  pass  along  the  corridor 

125 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

lest  one  of  them  should  mistake  you  for  her  elder 
brother  and  snatch  at  your  long  horns." 

"They  will  have  more  business  with  you  than 
with  me,  fair  youth.  Has  any  one  been  to  tell  you 
what  Saint  Monica  replied?  Did  you  not  at  least 
arrange  with  one  of  the  servants  to  bring  you  the 
news?" 

"No." 

"  And  you  have  not  enough  interest  in  the  matter 
even  to  ask  me  what  was  the  result!" 

"What  did  the  saint  do?"  asked  the  boy,  clasp- 
ing his  hands  under  his  head  and  regarding  the 
indignant  jester. 

"  I  have  as  good  a  mind  as  I  ever  had  to  swallow 
a  bite  to  eat  to  let  you  wait  until  morning  to  find 
out." 

"  Considering,  as  you  say,  that  I  have  no  curios- 
ity about  the  matter,  do  you  think  that  would 
greatly  disturb  me?"  asked  Philibert.  "  But  come, 
my  good  fellow,"  he  added  good-naturedly,  "  do 
not  be  angry  with  me.  Perhaps  I  am  overfond  of 
my  bed,  and  this  couch  is  soft  with  the  down  of 
many  fowls.  Tell  me  what  reply  was  made  by 
Saint  Monica." 

"She  came  to  life!"  replied  Le  Glorieux,  in  a 
tone  of  awe,  as  he  recalled  the  remarkable  scene  he 
had  witnessed.  "  It  is  a  great  pity  that  she  stood  so 
much  in  shadow  that  we  could  not  see  her  more 
plainly,  but  from  the  moment  I  beheld  her  I  could 
see  a  palpitation  as  of  life  beneath  her  raiment." 

126 


A   SURPRISE   FOR  THE   PRINCESS 

"Could  you  see  her  face  distinctly?" 

"No,  you  know  it  is  shaded  by  her  coif.  And 
all  say  that  even  before  they  saw  her  move  they 
are  quite  certain  that  her  head  was  not  in  quite  the 
same  pose  as  usual,  so  she  must  have  moved  even 
before  we  saw  her." 

"Are  you  very  sure  that  you  saw  her  move?" 
asked  the  boy. 

"Am  I  sure!  Am  I  sure  that  I  am  talking  to 
you  at  this  moment?  We  all  saw  her  move;  she 
bowed  her  head  and  raised  her  hand,  and  the  cause 
of  the  girl  has  been  vindicated.  She  is  going  to 
marry  the  miller's  son,  and  my  little  princess  has 
just  given  her  gold  enough  to  make  a  dowry  be- 
yond her  wildest  dreams." 

"Did  the  Lady  Marguerite  do  so?"  cried  the 
boy,  showing  interest  and  enthusiasm  for  the  first 
time.  "It  is  like  herl  She  is  just  and  generous, 
she  is  an  angel." 

"No,  I  could  not  call  her  an  angel  exactly," 
replied  the  jester,  "  for  I  have  seen  her  eyes  flash 
with  anger  more  than  once,  though  always  in  a 
good  cause.  Our  little  lady  is  not  without  her  bit 
of  temper." 

"  Le  Glorieux,"  asked  Philibert  earnestly,  "  have 
you  ever  seen  an  opal?  " 

"Yes,  the  old  Duchess  of  Burgundy  wore  one  on 
her  thumb.  It  is  a  stone  with  a  red  light  that 
rolls  about  over  a  green  surface." 

"  Well,  it  would  not  be  so  pretty  without  the  red 

127 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

flame,  and  the  princess  would  not  be  so  perfect 
without  her  temper." 

"A  temper,"  said  the  jester,  "is  a  good  thing 
when  it  is  only  allowed  to  come  out  once  in  a  great 
while,  and  that  only  in  a  good  cause,  but  as  a  rule 
it  should  be  kept  under  lock  and  key  lest  it  should 
work  destruction.  But  I  must  say  good  night,  else 
the  first  streaks  of  dawn  will  find  me  on  the  outside 
of  my  bed,  which  to  a  man  with  my  talent  for  sleep- 
ing would  be  a  calamity." 

If  any  one  had  thought  to  compare  the  Lady  Clo- 
tilde  to  an  opal  that  night,  he  would  have  said  that 
the  red  flame  had  absorbed  the  whole  of  the  stone. 
She  was  in  a  most  captious  state  of  mind,  boxing 
the  ears  of  her  tiring-woman  and  scolding  every- 
body within  reach.  The  maid's  innocence  had 
been  proven,  but  what  good  did  this  do  the  Lady 
Clotilde?  The  pendant  was  still  missing.  The 
whole  household  was  rejoicing,  just  as  if  her  jewel 
had  been  restored  at  the  same  time,  when  its  loss 
was  as  great  a  mystery  as  ever! 

"  Fetch  my  book  to  me,"  she  said  when  her 
woman  had  finished  her  other  duties.  "You  were 
about  to  forget  it  when  you  know  quite  well  that 
I  could  not  sleep  a  wink  without  my  devotional 
reading." 

The  maid  placed  on  a  little  table  beside  her  mis- 
tress a  little  Florentine  lamp  of  silver  that  her 
lady  always  took  with  her  when  traveling.  Beside 
it  she  placed  a  book  bound  in  blue  silk,  with  clasps 

128 


**  I  could  not  sleep  a  wink  without  my  devotional  reading" 

Page  128 


A  SURPRISE   FOR  THE   PRINCESS 

and  corners  of  silver.  This  volume  was  a  treasure, 
for  on  the  inside  its  letters  were  crimson,  outlined 
with  pure  gold,  and  it  told  of  the  lives  of  the  saints. 
But  the  Lady  Clotilde's  devotional  reading  was 
usually  a  pretense.  It  was  well  to  make  others  be- 
lieve that  she  was  too  pious  to  sleep  until  she  had 
refreshed  her  mind  with  facts  in  the  life  of  a  saint, 
but  as  a  rule  she  went  to  sleep  as  soon  as  her  head 
touched  the  pillow,  and  though  to-night  she  was  too 
restless  to  be  overcome  by  slumber,  the  handsome 
book  remained  tightly  clasped,  with  its  gorgeous 
lettering,  done  by  the  patient  hand  of  a  monk,  still 
shut  from  view. 

The  next  day  it  seemed  to  Le  Glorieux  that  there 
was  a  whistling  sound  of  whispering  all  over  the 
castle;  maids  and  pages,  with  their  heads  close  to- 
gether in  the  corridors,  would  fly  apart  at  his 
approach  and  assume  an  air  of  great  unconcern, 
while  a  group  of  ladies  in  the  corners  talking  all 
at  once,  as  of  something  of  vital  interest,  would 
close  their  lips  tightly  when  they  saw  him  coming, 
and  one  of  the  gentlemen  actually  said  "  Hush!  "  to 
the  others  when  Le  Glorieux  suddenly  appeared 
among  them. 

"  Do  you  know  why  everybody  is  whispering 
and  making  themselves  look  like  owls,  little 
Cousin?"  he  asked  the  princess. 

"They  do  not  whisper  when  I  am  present;  I 
know  nothing  about  it,"  she  returned.  "  I  only 
know  that  in  spite  of  the  good  cheer  offered  by  our 

129 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

kind  host,  I  am  praying  that  the  time  may  fly  on 
swiftest  wings  so  that  I  may  soon  see  my  father." 

"  Well,  there  is  either  a  conspiracy  on  foot 
against  me  or  else  they  are  planning  a  pleasant  sur- 
prise for  me." 

"Your  imagination  is  playing  you  a  trick,  my 
good  fool.  Why  should  they  be  planning  anything 
that  concerns  you?" 

Cunegunda  entered  the  room  and,  like  almost 
every  one  else  Le  Glorieux  had  noticed  that  day, 
she  wore  a  beaming  smile. 

"  I  have  been  so  accustomed  to  see  you  down  in 
the  dumps  that  your  present  broad  grin  makes  you 
seem  like  a  stranger  to  me,  Cunegunda,"  said  he. 
''  What  is  it  that  you  know  that  makes  you  look  like 
a  beaming  saint?" 

"What  it  is  that  I  know,  do  you  ask,  Sir  Fool? 
What  should  I  know  save  that  the  sky  is  blue  and 
the  air  is  crisp  and  clear?  " 

"  The  weather  is  a  very  good  thing  to  be  talked 
about  by  boobies  who  can  think  of  no  other  subject 
of  conversation,"  he  retorted,  "but  it  has  never 
seemed  to  me  to  have  a  comical  side,  and  there  is 
nothing  in  it  to  bring  out  that  broad  smile." 

"  I  am  not  smiling,"  said  she;  "my  countenance 
is  simply  relaxed." 

"Then  do  not  relax  it  any  further,  or  who  can 
tell  what  the  consequences  may  be?  " 

Still  devoured  with  curiosity  regarding  the 
secret,  which  he  was  confident  was  also  being  kept 

130 


A  SURPRISE   FOR  THE   PRINCESS 

from  the  princess,  the  fool  wandered  to  the  dining- 
hall,  where  a  lively  conversation  was  going  on  be- 
tween the  seneschal  and  the  housekeeper.  These 
functionaries  were  elderly  people  and  both  were 
very  fat.  They  had  been  serving  the  count  and 
countess  from  their  youth,  and  during  all  those 
years  seemed  to  have  been  running  a  race  to  see 
which  would  grow  the  stouter.  The  seneschal  con- 
sidered himself  the  most  important  person  in  the 
castle;  the  housekeeper  was  sure  that  the  family 
would  become  extinct  should  she  conclude  to  leave 
its  service.  Probably  most  of  us  feel  the  same 
about  our  own  surroundings,  but  the  chances 
are  that  the  world  will  wag  along  just  the  same 
when  we  shall  have  ceased  to  grace  it  with  our 
presence. 

Having  nothing  more  entertaining  on  hand  at 
the  moment,  the  jester  paused  and  stood  unseen  in 
the  shadow  of  the  great  chimney  to  hear  what  they 
were  saying. 

"Oh,  me!"  said  the  housekeeper,  "I  have  so 
much  to  do  with  superintending  those  lazy  maids 
and  watching  everything  that  goes  on  in  the  kitchen 
that  it  is  a  wonder  that  I  have  a  bone  in  my  body." 

"  Nobody  knows  whether  you  have  a  bone ;  there 
are  no  signs  of  any,"  replied  the  seneschal,  taking 
up  a  silver  jug  and  beginning  to  polish  it  with  a 
great  show  of  vigor. 

"What  are  you  doing?"  asked  the  housekeeper 
sharply. 

131 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

"I  am  polishing  this  jug;  did  you  think  I  was 
playing  the  lute?" 

"No  doubt  you  consider  that  extremely  funny," 
she  retorted  contemptuously,  "  but  let  me  tell  you 
that  for  a  man  of  your  age  to  try  to  be  witty  is  like 
the  frog  trying  to  sing  the  notes  of  the  nightingale. 
Oh,  me,  I  have  so  much  to  do  that  I  actually  do  not 
know  where  to  begin!  I  wish  that  somebody 
would  take  as  much  interest  in  the  management  of 
this  place  as  I  do.  I  do  not  know  what  my  Lady 
would  do  if  I  should  drop  out." 

"  You  certainly  would  be  missed,"  replied  the 
seneschal. 

She  was  greatly  surprised  at  this  reply  from  one 
who  never  would  admit  that  she  was  of  any  value 
to  her  employers.  "  I  am  glad  that  you  can  see 
that  I  should  be  missed,"  said  she,  "  and  that  at  last 
you  are  coming  to  your  senses." 

"  It  does  not  require  any  great  amount  of  wisdom 
to  make  such  a  remark,"  he  returned,  surveying  the 
jug  with  one  eye  closed,  "  since  it  would  be  very 
singular  if  a  person  of  your  size  would  drop  out  of 
any  place  and  not  be  missed." 

"There  you  go  again,  Mr.  Frog!  Perhaps  the 
old  emperor  wants  a  jester  to  cheer  him  up.  Do 
you  not  think  it  would  be  a  good  plan  to  apply  for 
the  position?" 

"  I  do  not  know  that  I  should  care  to  do  so,  but 
at  the  same  time  I  think  he  might  do  worse  than  to 
employ  me." 

132 


A   SURPRISE   FOR  THE   PRINCESS 

"  Of  all  things  in  this  world  this  is  the  most  won- 
derful! Is  there  no  limit  to  your  self-satisfac- 
tion?" 

"If  we  are  not  satisfied  with  ourselves  who  will 
be  satisfied  with  us?"  he  asked.  "I  am  sure  that 
I  could  m.ake  myself  fully  as  useful  to  his  Imperial 
Majesty  as  to  my  present  master  and  mistress." 

"  And  that  is  not  saying  a  great  deal,"  replied  the 
housekeeper,  with  a  sniff. 

"  What  do  you  mean?  How  could  the  place  get 
on  without  me?  Where  is  the  man  in  my  position 
who  does  so  much  outside  of  his  proper  duties? 
When  they  are  starting  to  the  hunt,  who  always 
watches  them  depart?  I  do.  Who  always  places 
the  hawk  on  my  lady's  wrist?  I  do.  Who  else 
could  do  it  to  her  satisfaction?  No  one.  I  taste 
everything  that  comes  to  the  table,  for  no  one  else 
has  so  delicate  a  sense  of  taste  or  can  so  quickly 
detect  the  absence  of  the  right  flavor.  And  then  I 
keep  my  eye  on  all  the  maids  and  pages  to  see  that 
they  do  not  idle  away  their  time." 

The  housekeeper  tossed  her  head  scornfully. 
"  As  to  placing  the  hawk  on  my  lady's  wrist,  I  can 
see  no  great  amount  of  labor  in  that.  As  to  '  tast- 
ing '  the  food  as  you  do,  which  consists  of  dipping 
an  amount  from  each  dish,  seasoning  it  well  and 
eating  it,  I  am  sure  there  are  plenty  who  would  be 
glad  to  take  your  place  and  consider  it  no  hardship. 
I  notice  too  that  you  taste  the  wine  which  has  been 
in  the  cellar  for  a  hundred  years,  and  which  our 

133 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

master  already  knows  all  about.  Do  you  consider 
that  necessary?" 

"  Did  you  never  hear,  my  good  woman,  of  a 
poisonous  drug  being  dropped  into  a  bottle  by  a 
scoundrel  of  a  servant?" 

"No  servant  of  this  house  ever  has  tried  to 
poison  his  master." 

"  That  is  true,  but  who  knows  when  such  a  thing 
might  happen?  It  is  always  well  to  be  prepared 
for  the  worst." 

"  Since  you  open  the  bottles  yourself,  none  else 
has  a  chance  to  put  in  the  poison,"  she  replied, 
determined  to  argue  the  question  into  shreds. 

"  Even  supposing  that  no  one  had  an  opportunity 
with  the  bottles,"  said  the  seneschal,  "  did  you 
never  hear  of  such  a  thing  as  chemical  action?  " 

"  No,  and  I  want  to  know  nothing  of  such  Satan's 
work." 

"  Whether  you  know  it  or  not,  changes  take  place 
in  liquids  sometimes  that  make  them  most  danger- 
ous, and  who  can  tell  what  has  been  going  on  in  a 
pipe  of  wine  that  has  had  nothing  to  do  for  the 
last  century  but  to  get  into  mischief?" 

"  It  is  very  thoughtful  of  you  to  be  so  willing  to 
sacrifice  yourself,"  said  the  housekeeper,  with  all 
the  sarcasm  in  her  voice  that  she  could  manage  and 
be  understood  at  the  same  time;  " but  do  leave  that 
jug  alone!     It  is  my  business  to  see  to  such  things." 

"  I  do  not  deny  that  statement,  but  until  I  took  it 
up,  this  jug  was  as  dull  as  the  sun  behind  a  fog. 

134 


**  Hush  !    we  were  told  not  even  to  mention  his  name 


A  SURPRISE   FOR  THE   PRINCESS 

Look  at  it  now  I  A  lady  could  see  to  rouge  her 
face  by  it." 

"There  is  no  difference  in  it  to  what  it  was  be- 
fore you  touched  it.  But  I  must  go  and  look  after 
the  cook,  for  the  supper  to-night  must  be  the 
triumph  of  our  lives.  I  hope  that  we  shall  not 
have  to  wait  for  our  guest,  or  the  dishes  may  be 
spoiled." 

"  He  will  not  mind;  he  was  as  gay  and  easy  to 
please  as  a  burgher  when  he  visited  here  before," 
said  the  seneschal;  adding,  "  I  wonder  if  they  have 
succeeded  in  keeping  the  secret  from  the  Lady 
Marguerite?" 

"  Oh,  yes ;  all  understand  that  she  is  not  to  know." 

"  I  am  surprised,"  said  the  seneschal,  "  that  a 
secret  so  important  can  be  kept  by  a  lot  of  cackling 
women." 

"  Dame  Cunegunda  says  her  Highness,  the 
princess,  is  all  impatience  to  be  away,"  said  the 
housekeeper,  who  scorned  to  make  any  reply  to  this 
last  taunt.  "  She  will  be  almost  out  of  her  mind 
with  delight  when  he  comes." 

"Hush!  we  were  told  not  even  to  mention  his 
name,  for  the  very  walls  have  ears  when  a  secret 
is  to  be  kept." 

"  I  am  not  mentioning  any  names." 

"  The  friar  who  stayed  the  night  here,"  said  the 
seneschal,  "  told  me  something  about  him.  The 
friar  was  at  Ulm  when  he  whom  we  expect  was  at 
that  city.     The  cathedral  at  Ulm  has  a  very  tall 

I3S 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

tower,  and  nearly  four  hundred  steps  lead  to  the 
top  of  it.  Well,  he  whom  we  expect  climbed  to 
the  top  of  the  tower  and  stood  on  one  leg  on  the  top 
of  it  and  turned  around!  The  friar  said  if  any 
other  man  had  attempted  such  a  feat  he  surely 
would  have  fallen  and  have  been  dashed  to  pieces. 
But  he  whom  we  expect  is  as  brave  as  a  lion,  and  it 
was  one  of  his  pranks,  for  he  is  gay  and  full  of 
fun." 

"  How  wonderful!  "  exclaimed  the  housekeeper, 
looking  up  from  the  silver  bowl  she  was  polishing. 

"Yes,  indeed.  And  the  friar  said  that  while 
none  could  be  more  gracious,  none  knows  better 
than  he  how  to  keep  upstarts  in  their  places." 

"Than  the  friar?"  asked  the  housekeeper. 

"No,  Mrs.  Stupid,  than  he  whom  we  expect. 
The  friar  told  how  an  ambassador  from  the  King 
of  Denmark  came.  The  ambassador  was  very  high 
and  mighty.  In  his  opinion  no  ruler  was  so  good 
as  the  King  of  Denmark,  and  out  of  respect  to  his 
own  ruler  the  ambassador  delivered  the  message 
sitting.  Then  he  whom  we  expect  rose  to  his  feet 
and  remained  standing  during  the  interview,  and 
the  ambassador  was  obliged  to  stand  also  from  very 
shame." 

"  I  am  glad  that  you  are  forced  to  acknowledge 
that  something  good  can  come  out  of  my  country," 
said  the  housekeeper,  who  was  an  Austrian,  and 
ended  her  remarks  with  a  chuckle  of  delight,  for 
the  seneschal  was  Flemish. 

136 


A   SURPRISE    FOR  THE   PRINCESS 

"My  friends,"  said  Le  Glorieux,  coming  for- 
ward and  giving  the  worthy  couple  a  start  of  sur- 
prise as  he  did  so,  "  as  I  understand  the  matter,  you 
are  trying  to  keep  a  secret." 

"  Yes,  Sir  Fool,  and  we  have  not  revealed  it," 
replied  the  seneschal  proudly,  saying,  "  How  long 
have  you  been  standing  there?  " 

"  Ever  since  you  began  to  polish  that  jug.  You 
were  talking  so  loud  that  I  did  not  think  you  were 
saying  anything  that  I  could  not  hear  as  well  as 
not." 

"And  you  heard  nothing!  "  declared  the  house- 
keeper triumphantly.  "You,  sir,  were  to  be  kept 
in  the  dark,  lest  in  your  merry  way  you  should  re- 
veal to  the  princess  what  she  is  not  to  know,  and 
even  though  you  have  been  standing  there  all  that 
time,  you  have  heard  nothing,  for  we  have  men- 
tioned no  names." 

"  I  have  heard,"  said  the  jester,  "  of  a  bird  found 
in  Africa  called  the  ostrich.  This  very  wise  fowl 
when  it  wants  to  conceal  itself  hides  its  head  in  the 
sand  and  leaves  its  big  bulky  body  in  plain  view. 
You  remind  me  of  this  bird.  You  have  men- 
tioned no  names,  of  course,  but  who  is  it  that  the 
princess  most  desires  to  see?  Maximilian.  Who 
would  be  most  likely  to  climb  to  the  top  of  a  tower 
and  turn  around  on  one  leg?  Maximilian.  Who 
would  make  an  impudent  ambassador  ashamed  of 
himself?     Maximilian." 

"Hist,  sir!     Pray  hush,"  said  the  housekeeper. 

137 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

''  That  name  must  not  be  mentioned,  else  it  will 
reach  the  ears  of  her  little  Highness,  the  Lady 
Marguerite." 

"  My  little  princess  is  in  the  other  wing  of  the 
castle,  and  in  order  to  hear  me  she  would  have  to 
have  "a  sense  of  hearing  sharper  than  any  chamois 
that  ever  leaped  a  chasm.  And  now  that  you  see 
that  I  know  all  about  it,  suppose  you  tell  me  how 
you  know  that  the  archduke,  the  King^of  the 
Romans — in  other  words,  Maximilian — is  com- 
ing." 

"A  messenger  arrived  last  night  from  Ghent  to 
tell  us.  His  Highness  does  not  want  the  princess 
to  know  of  his  coming;  he  wishes  to  see  if  she  will 
recognize  him,"  said  the  housekeeper. 

"And  they  wanted  this  secret  kept  from  me?  I 
do  not  deny  being  a  fool,  for  that  is  how  I  keep  my 
position  at  court,  but  do  they  think  that  I  am  a 
baby  who  forgets  what  it  has  seen  last  month? 
Did  I  not  see  Max  when  he  was  married,  and  is  it 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  I  have  entirely  forgotten 
how  he  looks?  They  might  have  known  that  it 
would  be  safer  to  tell  me  all  about  it.  If  I  had 
seen  him  coming  I  might  have  bawled,  '  Little 
Princess,  here  comes  your  father  I '  and  that  would 
have  spoiled  it  all." 

"  I  do  not  think  they  remembered  that  you  had 
already  seen  him,"  said  the  seneschal;  "  at  any  rate 
we  were  told  to  keep  the  secret  from  you." 

"  It  is  a  great  mistake  to  try  to  keep  a  secret 

138 


A   SURPRISE   FOR  THE   PRINCESS 

from  me,"  said  the  fool,  "  for  I  always  find  things 
out.  As  well  try  to  keep  the  presence  of  the  cheese 
a  secret  from  the  mouse,  as  to  try  to  keep  anything 
from  me.  And  since  you  have  been  telling  stories 
about  Max,  I  will  tell  you  one  that  I  heard.  One 
day  when  he  was  riding  home  from  the  chase,  a 
beggar  accosted  him.  '  Please  give  me  alms,  your 
Highness,'  said  the  beggar,  who  w^as  one  of  the 
whining  kind;  '  although  I  am  of  lowly  birth,  still 
we  are  all  brothers  and  should  help  each  other.' 
Max  handed  him  a  penny,  saying,  '  Take  this,  my 
good  man,  and  if  all  your  brothers  give  you  as 
much,  you  will  be  richer  than  I.'  It  may  be  that 
Max  did  not  have  much  money  with  him  at  the 
time;  I  am  sure  he  did  not  if  it  was  before  his 
marriage,  for  nearly  all  his  wealth  came  from  Bur- 
gundy and  Flanders." 

"  Ha!  ha!"  laughed  the  seneschal,  turning  to  the 
housekeeper.  "  Where  would  your  great  King  of 
the  Romans  be  without  my  country?  Even  a  king 
with  no  money  is  of  little  consequence." 

"Pray,  pray,  good  Sir  Fool,"  said  the  house- 
keeper, ignoring  this  remark,  "  keep  the  secret  from 
her  Highness,  and  let  no  one  know  that  you  are 
aware  of  the  coming  of  the  archduke.  Our  mas- 
ter would  be  seriously  displeased  if  he  knew  that 
we  had  revealed  the  fact  that  the  royal  visitor  is 
expected." 

"  Do  not  be  alarmed,"  replied  Le  Glorieux;  "  I 
shall  be  as  silent  as  an  owl  in  daytime,  for  I,  too, 

139 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

want  my  little  mistress  to  have  the  pleasure  of  a 
surprise."  The  end  of  the  sentence  was  almost 
drowned  by  the  striking  of  the  clock,  and  the  fool 
continued,  raising  his  voice,  "  I  do  not  see  why  it 
is,  but  it  seems  to  me  that  every  time  I  want  to  say 
anything  that  clock  wants  to  strike  at  that  partic- 
ular minute!" 

"  Oh,  it  is  late,  it  is  late,"  cried  the  housekeeper, 
"  and  we  must  hurry." 

"True,"  said  the  seneschal,  "let  the  table  be 
spread  at  once." 

Two  boys  came  in  to  spread  the  table,  and  were 
soundly  cufifed  by  the  seneschal  because  they  put  the 
plates  on  before  the  salt,  there  being  a  superstition 
that  bad  luck  was  sure  to  follow  unless  the  salt  went 
on  first  of  all.  Some  people  have  an  idea  that 
the  way  to  hurry  things  up  is  to  get  into  a  temper, 
and  this  seemed  to  be  the  case  with  both  the 
seneschal  and  the  housekeeper,  who  bustled  about, 
interrupting  each  other  by  the  commands  they  gave 
the  servants,  one  often  countermanding  the  orders 
of  the  other,  until  their  underlings  ran  hither  and 
thither  without  knowing  what  to  do.  Le  Glorieux, 
who  made  himself  perfectly  at  home  all  over  the 
house,  followed  the  pair  to  the  kitchen  and  seated 
himself  comfortably  on  the  lower  step  of  a  wind- 
ing staircase,  which  led  somewhere  to  regions 
above,  for  the  old  castle  was  full  of  surprises,  and 
one  was  likely  to  find  door,  stairs,  and  halls  where 
they  were  to  be  least  expected. 

140 


A   SURPRISE   FOR  THE   PRINCESS 

All  was  hurry  and  wild  excitement  in  the 
kitchen.  At  the  fireplace,  which  was  large  enough 
to  roast  an  ox,  the  cook  was  basting  a  number  of 
fowls;  scullions  were  chopping  spiced  dressings, 
beating  eggs,  and  attending  to  various  features  of 
the  coming  repast,  and  everybody  seemed  to  be 
working  in  a  great  haste,  for  a  few  sharp  words 
from  the  housekeeper,  seconded  by  the  seneschal, 
had  stirred  the  whole  kitchen  into  a  flurry.  "  Here, 
baste  these  fowls,"  cried  the  cook,  handing  a  long- 
handled  spoon  to  one  of  the  scullions.  "  Can  you 
not  see  that  I  ought  to  be  at  work  on  the  pastry? 
You  stand  at  the  other  end  of  the  room  staring  at 
nothing  at  all  when  you  know  that  I  must  need  you 
here."  The  cook  was  quite  haughty  while  admin- 
istering this  reproof,  and  Le  Glorieux  remarked: 

''  Everybody  has  some  one  to  scold,  from  the 
seneschal  on  down,  and  I  dare  say  the  scullions  vent 
their  ill  temper  on  the  dogs." 

The  boy  who  was  beating  the  eggs  stopped  to 
laugh  at  this  remark,  for  which  he  received  a  swift 
cuff  from  the  housekeeper,  who  said,  "  Do  you  not 
know  that  one  should  never  pause  for  even  a 
moment  when  beating  eggs?  You  deserve  a  good 
drubbing  for  your  heedlessness." 

"  She  beats  you  and  you  beat  the  eggs,"  remarked 
Le  Glorieux  to  the  boy. 

The  scullion  at  the  fire  began  to  giggle  at  this 
piece  of  drollery,  and  tilting  his  spoon  spilled  the 
gravy  into  the  flames,  which  received  it  with  a 

141 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

great  deal  of  sputtering,  cracking,  and  snapping, 
and  an  increase  of  blaze,  which  threatened  to  con- 
sume all  the  fowls,  and  which  put  the  cook  into 
such  a  rage  that  he  snatched  the  spoon  and  hit  the 
boy  a  crack  over  the  head  with  it.  "  Take  that  for 
a  blundering  idiot!"  cried  he.  "From  your  in- 
difference and  carelessness  one  would  think  a  sup- 
per for  royal  visitors  was  prepared  in  this  kitchen 
every  day  in  the  week!" 

"And  it  is  a  good  thing  that  it  is  not,"  said  the 
jester,  "  for  in  that  case  I  am  sure  that  funerals  in 
this  mansion  would  be  frequent.  But  it  is  my 
fault,  no  doubt.  I  am  making  myself  too  enter- 
taining. I  will  go  now,  first  saying  that  if  any  of 
you  boys  should  receive  a  broken  skull,  I  have  a 
box  of  ointment  in  my  room  to  which  you  are  quite 
welcome,  and  which  will  cure  the  wound  and 
cause  the  hair  to  grow  over  it." 

So  saying  he  lounged  out  of  the  room  and  to 
the  apartment  of  his  little  mistress.  Antoine  was 
singing  for  her  a  tinkling  melody,  and  the  jester 
began  to  sway  about  in  time  to  the  music.  With 
mischief  in  his  eyes,  Antoine  kept  singing  faster 
and  faster,  which  caused  the  jester  to  whirl  about 
like  a  top,  while  the  little  princess  clapped  her 
hands  with  delight. 

"Bravo!"  said  a  voice,  when  the  song  was 
finished,  and  turning  they  saw  a  man's  figure  stand- 
ing in  the  doorway. 

"Who  are  you,  sir,  that  come  in  unannounced, 

142 


A   SURPRISE   FOR  THE   PRINCESS 

and  what  do  you  wish?"  asked  the  Lady  Mar- 
guerite, straightening  herself  up,  for  she  was  most 
dignified  at  times  and  would  permit  no  liberties.  If 
his  rank  might  be  judged  by  his  costume,  this  new- 
comer was  taking  a  great  liberty,  and  the  princess 
continued  to  gaze  at  him  with  a  haughty  expression 
of  countenance,  while  he  remained  smiling,  but 
silent.  He  was  dressed  in  a  simple  gray  hunting 
costume,  and  the  hat  he  held  in  his  hand  was 
adorned,  not  by  a  curling  plume,  but  by  a  feather 
from  the  wing  of  the  black  eagle. 

He  was  of  a  fine  and  graceful  figure  and  a  hand- 
some face,  and  there  seemed  to  be  a  kind  of  mist  in 
his  eyes  as  he  gazed  at  the  frowning  little  lady  be- 
fore him,  and  who  said  again  and  more  curtly  than 
before: 

"  Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  tell  me  what  brings 
you  here?" 

"  I  bear  a  message  from  the  archduke,"  he 
replied. 

"  Oh,"  cried  Marguerite,  and  forgetting  her 
dignity,  she  sprang  from  her  chair  and  advanced 
toward  him.  "Give  me  the  letter;  where  is  it? 
Why  do  you  wait  so  long?  " 

"I  have  no  letter;  it  is  a  verbal  message." 
"  Then  what  is  it;  can  you  not  speak?  " 
"  He  bids  you  be  patient  for  a  while  and  rest." 
"  Rest!     I  have  rested  till  I  am  weary  of  resting. 
If  that  is  all  you  have  to  tell  me,  you  can  return 
whence  you  came  and  ask  the  archduke,  my  father, 

143 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

if  all  these  years  have  made  him  forget  that  he 
should  love  his  daughter,  and  if  he  believes  that 
she  cares  not  at  all  for  him?" 

The  little  princess  did  not  weep,  as  she  was  in- 
clined to  do  in  her  disappointment,  but  her  cheeks 
were  flushed  and  her  lips  quivered  with  emotion. 

For  answer,  the  stranger  strode  into  the  room 
and,  picking  up  the  little  maiden  bodily  in  his  arms, 
he  kissed  her  lips,  her  brow,  her  hair,  and  her  eye- 
lids a  dozen  times,  for  he  must  have  thought,  as  did 
Le  Glorieux,  that  her  eyes  were  like  those  of  Mary 
of  Burgundy. 

"Oh!"  gasped  the  child,  but  she  did  not 
struggle,  for  she  now  realized  that  this  could  be  no 
other  than  her  father,  the  Archduke  of  Austria. 

"  I  had  thought  to  have  kept  my  identity  a  secret 
a  little  longer,  but  the  glance  of  those  eyes  over- 
came me,  quite,"  murmured  Maximilian,  while 
Le  Glorieux  whispered  to  Antoine,  "  Although  I 
am  a  fool,  there  are  moments  and  places  when  and 
where  I  feel  that  my  presence  is  not  absolutely  nec- 
essary, and  this  is  one  of  them.  She  will  not  blame 
us  if  we  go  without  her  permission,  and  our  room 
just  now  is  better  than  our  company,  so  let  us  go." 
And  unnoticed  they  slipped  away. 

Later  when  the  jester  saw  the  archduke  he  was 
clothed  as  became  his  rank,  in  velvet  trimmed  in 
fur,  while  gems  flashed  in  the  chain  about  his  neck 
and  on  his  fingers. 

"  My  father,"  said  the  princess,  who  clung  to 

144 


A  SURPRISE   FOR  THE   PRINCESS 

his  hand  as  if  she  feared  he  suddenly  would  vanish 
from  her  sight,  "  this  is  my  jester,  Le  Glorieux.  He 
once  lived  at  the  court  of  Burgundy.  He  loved  my 
mother  and  he  loves  me ;  he  was  given  to  me  by  the 
Lady  Anne  of  Brittany." 

*'  She  took  your  husband  and  gave  you  her  fool," 
replied  the  archduke. 

"And  who  shall  say  it  was  not  a  good  ex- 
change?" asked  Le  Glorieux  quickly.  "Some  of 
the  women  who  have  married  into  the  royal  house 
of  France  have  secured  both  king  and  fool  in  one." 

Maximilian  laughed.  "  I  see  you  have  a  ready 
wit,"  said  he.  "  I  now  remember  to  have  observed 
you  when  I  stood  at  the  door  of  the  princess'  apart- 
ments.    Did  you  suspect  who  I  was.  Fool?  " 

"  Not  at  first,"  was  the  reply.  "  Kings  may  have 
a  divine  right,  but  they  have  not  a  divine  look  when 
clothed  in  common  wool.  You  are  a  handsome 
figure  of  a  man,  but  so  is  many  a  forester,  and  even 
your  daughter  did  not  recognize  you  until  you  had 
hugged  her  like  a  bear.  But  now  you  look  very 
much  as  you  did  when  I  saw  you  at  Ghent." 

"You  saw  me  at  Ghent?"  repeated  Maximilian. 

"  Oh,  yes;  I  can  not  flatter  myself  that  you  saw 
my  fair  face,  for  it  was  the  day  you  wedded  our 
Duchess  of  Burgundy;  but  I  remember  you  for  all 
that,  and  I  have  described  your  appearance  on  that 
day  a  dozen  times  to  my  little  princess." 

Among  the  company  of  ladies  and  gentlemen 
who  surrounded  the  supper-table  none  was  happier 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

than  the  Lady  Clotilde.  She  wore  a  costume  care- 
fully copied  from  one  she  had  seen  worn  by  Anne 
of  Beaujeu,  and  which  the  tailor  who  had  fashioned 
it  before  Lady  Clotilde  left  Amboise  would  re- 
member to  the  last  day  of  his  life,  from  the  severe 
tongue  lashings  he  received  while  he  was  putting  it 
together.  It  was  of  a  heavy  velvet,  bordered  to 
the  knees  in  rich  dark  fur;  about  her  neck  were 
strings  and  strings  of  pearls;  a  veil  of  silver  tissue 
bound  her  brow  and  hung  down  her  back,  while 
her  hair,  drawn  into  a  mass  on  the  top  of  her  head, 
was  covered  by  a  sparkling  net  and  spread  out  on 
either  side  like  the  wings  of  a  butterfly. 

"  I  should  think  that  some  of  those  pearls  would 
get  lost  in  the  hollows  of  Clotilde's  neck,"  muttered 
Le  Glorieux  to  himself.  This  reminded  him  of 
the  moonstone  pendant  and  he  wondered  for  the 
fiftieth  time  where  it  could  be.  "  I  have  no  faith 
in  those  curses  that  were  to  follow  on  the  loss  of  the 
trinket,"  thought  he.  "  If  they  had  been  genuine, 
something  would  be  happening  to  her  by  this  time. 
And  she  is  just  as  healthy  as  ever;  I  watched  her  at 
the  table,  where  she  ate  about  four  capon  wings,  to 
say  nothing  of  a  quantity  of  roast  kid  and  a  good 
many  other  things.  But  her  luck  always  has  been 
something  wonderful,  and  a  misfortune  that  would 
come  at  full  gallop  after  anybody  else  would  pass 
Clotilde  by  and  forget  all  about  her." 

The  subject  of  piety  came  up  that  evening; 
Maximilian,  who  was  always  gay  and  fond  of  his 

146 


None  was  happier  than  Lady  Clotilde       P<ige  1 4.6 


A  SURPRISE   FOR  THE  PRINCESS 

joke,  but  nevertheless  had  great  reverence  for  the 
pious  teaching  he  had  received  in  his  youth,  said, 
"My  instructors  took  pains  to  impress  upon  me 
the  fear  of  God,  and  they  laid  great  stress  upon 
the  commandments  to  believe  in  one  God,  to  honor 
my  father  and  mother,  and  to  do  unto  others  as  I 
would  have  others  do  to  me." 

The  Lady  Clotilde  listened  to  him  as  one  en- 
tranced. Maximilian,  who  was  very  good-natured, 
had  made  one  or  two  complimentary  remarks  to 
her,  and  she  was  in  high  feather  in  consequence. 

"All  the  world  can  see  how  well  your  Highness 
lives  up  to  your  religious  training,"  said  she.  "  I, 
too,  have  had  all  the  great  truths  so  thoroughly  im- 
pressed upon  my  mind  that  I  never  in  any  circum- 
stances could  forget  them.  I  could  no  more  go  to 
sleep  without  my  devotional  reading  than  I  could 
exist  without  eating.  If  your  Highness  is  inter- 
ested in  handsome  books,  you  would  admire  my 
Lives  of  the  Saints,  which  I  read  every  night  be- 
fore I  close  my  eyes  in  slumber.  My  royal  cousin, 
the  Queen  of  France  " — and  the  Lady  Clotilde 
straightened  herself  up  at  the  mention  of  her  rela- 
tionship to  so  great  a  personage — "  knowing  my 
passion  for  devotional  reading,  took  from  me  my 
old  book  worn  out  with  constant  perusal,  and  gave 
me  another  instead.  It  was  printed  by  a  monk, 
with  his  own  hands.  My  royal  relative  is  very 
fond  of  such  books." 

That  Queen  Anne  was  fond  of  such  books  is 

147 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

shown  by  the  beautiful  Book  of  Hours  made  by  her 
order. 

"  I,  too,  am  very  fond  of  such  books,  especially 
of  the  kind  you  mention,"  said  the  archduke,  "  and 
which  I  am  afraid  will  go  out  of  existence  now 
that  the  style  of  printing  with  movable  letters  has 
come  in." 

And  it  may  be  said  in  passing  that  printing  had 
been  invented  about  forty  years  before  by  John 
Gutenberg  at  Mayence. 

"  I  should  very  much  like  to  see  the  volume  you 
mention,"  went  on  the  archduke. 

The  Lady  Clotilde  fluttered  with  delight  at  this 
request,  for  she  was  very  proud  of  the  volume  and 
would  take  great  pleasure  in  exhibiting  it  to  the 
royal  guest. 

A  servant  was  despatched  to  her  room  forthwith, 
and  brought  the  book,  which  was  handed  to  the 
archduke.  Maximilian  examined  the  silk  of  the 
binding,  the  chasing  of  the  silver  corners,  and  the 
clasps,  upon  which  were  engraved  the  arms  of  Brit- 
tany, a  country  which  might  at  this  moment  have 
been  his  own  had  not  fate  played  him  an  ugly 
trick.  Then  he  unclasped  the  volume  to  glance 
through  its  pages,  and  as  he  did  so  a  bright  object 
slipped  from  its  leaves  and  fell  to  the  floor.  Le 
Glorieux  sprang  at  once  to  pick  it  up,  exclaiming 
as  he  did  so,  "  Why,  Cousin  Clotilde,  it  is  your 
moonstone  pendant!" 

And   then   the  Lady  Clotilde  remembered   all 

148 


A   SURPRISE    FOR  THE   PRINCESS 

about  it.  She  had  worn  the  ornament  the  night 
before  they  left  Amboise,  and  as  the  maid  had  for- 
gotten to  put  it  with  her  other  jewels,  the  lady  had 
slipped  it  into  the  book,  the  pendant  being  flat  and 
the  book  clasping  loosely.  She  intended  to  have 
the  case  taken  from  her  box  where  it  had  been 
packed  ready  for  the  journey,  and  the  jewel  put 
in  it  as  soon  as  her  maid  entered  the  room.  And 
she  had  forgotten  all  about  the  circumstance  until 
this  very  moment!  People  who  pretend  to  be  what 
they  are  not  will  be  discovered  sooner  or  later,  and 
the  lady's  chagrin  was  so  great  that  for  the  moment 
she  was  absolutely  dumb. 

"  This  is  the  trinket  that  caused  all  that  commo- 
tion," said  the  fool.  "  No  wonder  Saint  Monica 
helped  the  girl  out  of  the  difficulty." 

Of  course  Maximilian  had  heard  the  story  of  the 
accusation  of  Cimburga,  and  of  her  miraculous 
vindication,  and  he  had  patted  his  little  daughter's 
head  approvingly  when  told  of  the  marriage  por- 
tion she  had  given  the  maid.  "  I  am  afraid,"  said 
he  to  Philibert,  in  order  to  cover  the  lady's  con- 
fusion, "that  you  are  not  a  very  attentive  squire, 
else  you  would  have  searched  for  and  found  the 
locket,  thus  saving  all  the  trouble  that  has  followed 
its  disappearance." 

"Your  Highness,  I  saw  my  cousin  place  it  in  the 
book,"  replied  the  boy  innocently,  "  but  as  I  sup- 
posed she  read  it  every  night,  I  never  thought  of 
looking  for  the  jewel  in  its  leaves." 

149 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

The  way  in  which  events  sometimes  group  them- 
selves is  very  provoking,  not  to  say  maddening.  The 
Lady  Clotilde  had  a  fine  little  story  all  fixed  up  in 
her  mind  as  soon  as  the  first  moments  of  her  amaze- 
ment had  passed.  She  was  going  to  say  that  the 
real  thief  had  no  doubt  repented  and  had  restored 
her  property  that  very  day,  knowing  that  she  would 
find  it  before  she  slept.  But  now  Philibert  must 
spoil  it  all  by  telling  the  whole  story,  for  she  re- 
membered that  she  had  expatiated  to  him  upon  the 
duty  of  reading  elevating  books,  had  opened  this 
one  and  held  it  in  her  lap,  and,  seeing  the  pendant 
on  the  table,  had  censured  the  carelessness  of  her 
woman,  and  had  clasped  it  in  the  book,  where  she 
said  it  was  safe  for  the  present.  She  had  bragged 
of  her  piety  to  the  archduke,  and  here  she  was  ex- 
posed as  one  who  not  only  had  not  looked  into  the 
volume  for  more  than  a  fortnight,  but  who  had  told 
a  falsehood  as  well! 

"  It  is  truly  a  curious  ornament,"  remarked  the 
archduke,  turning  it  so  that  the  light  played  upon 
the  carved  face  of  the  moonstone. 

"  It  is  an  heirloom  of  my  mother's  family,  your 
Grace,"  returned  its  owner  in  a  constrained,  half- 
hearted way. 

"  I  have  been  watching  for  something  to  happen 
to  you,  Cousin  Clotilde,"  said  the  jester,  "  and  now 
you  will  glide  along  and  be  as  comfortable  as  the 
rest  of  us.  After  all,  it  is  a  good  thing  that  you  put 
the  moonstone  in  a  book  that  you  never  open,  for  if 

ISO 


A   SURPRISE   FOR  THE   PRINCESS 

you  had  found  it  right  away,  you  never  would  have 
accused  Cimburga,  and  if  you  had  not  accused  Cim- 
burga,  she  would  never  have  received  the  purse  of 
gold  for  her  dower,  and  then  she  never  would  have 
married  Karl,  for  the  prudent  miller  sooner  or 
later  would  have  persuaded  his  son  to  marry  the 
weaver's  daughter.  So  let  us  be  thankful  that  you 
are  not  so  pious  as  you  think  you  are,  and  that  you 
put  the  pendant  in  a  book  where  it  would  have  re- 
mained for  months,  perhaps  years,  if  you  had  not 
wanted  to  show  it  to  Cousin  Max." 

But  the  Lady  Clotilde  derived  no  comfort  from 
the  favor  she  incidentally  had  done  the  maid.  It 
never  had  entered  her  head  that  she  owed  the  girl 
some  reparation  for  the  fright  she  had  caused  her, 
and  for  the  humiliating  position  in  which  she  had 
been  placed,  for  the  Lady  Clotilde  did  not  own  the 
kind  of  a  head  that  would  entertain  such  an  idea. 

The  beds  at  the  castle  were  most  comfortable,  be- 
ing, as  Philibert  had  said,  stuffed  with  the  down  of 
many  fowls,  and  that  of  the  Lady  Clotilde  was  hung 
with  the  richest  brocade,  but  as  she  went  to  it  boil- 
ing with  rage  at  Philibert,  Le  Glorieux,  Cimburga, 
the  countess,  and  everybody  in  the  remotest  way 
connected  with  the  moonstone,  it  was  long  before 
sweet  sleep  visited  her  eyelids. 

But  the  little  princess  closed  her  eyes  with  a 
smile,  and  soon  sank  into  pleasant  dreams;  she  had 
seen  her  father,  and  he  was  all  that  her  fancy  had 
painted  him:  he  was  affectionate,  gay,  and  hand- 

151 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

some.  He  had  spoken  during  the  evening  of  his 
combats  and  she  knew  that  he  always  had  van- 
quished his  opponents.  He  was  a  true  and  brave 
knight,  and  happy  indeed  was  she  in  being  the 
daughter  of  one  so  worthy  and  so  favored  by 
fortune. 


152 


CHAPTER    VIII 

A  ROYAL  ALCHEMIST 

The  object  of  her  greatest  desire,  the  meeting 
with  her  father,  having  been  attained,  the  princess 
was  in  no  haste  to  leave  Castle  Hohenberg,  and  as 
the  archduke  was  glad  to  rest  a  while  from  the  cares 
of  state,  a  number  of  merry  days  were  spent  under 
its  hospitable  roof,  where  everything  that  could  be 
thought  of  to  add  to  the  enjoyment  of  the  guests 
was  done,  with  probably  a  vast  increase  in  the 
housekeeping  accounts,  for  it  is  expensive  to  enter- 
tain royal  visitors. 

In  the  evening  there  was  dancing  in  the  great 
hall,  and  it  was  led  by  Maximilian,  who  chose  for 
his  partner  the  prettiest  lady  in  the  room,  or  the 
oldest  and  most  ill-favored,  for  he  made  himself 
agreeable  to  all. 

When  he  spoke  of  taking  his  departure  one  of 
the  ladies  declared  that  she  would  hide  his  boots 
and  spurs,  which  would  detain  him  as  long  as  she 
should  see  fit  to  keep  him  there,  for  a  prince  riding 
away  without  those  useful  articles  of  wearing  ap- 
parel would  present  an  odd  spectacle.  This  same 
trick  had  been  played  upon  Maximilian  in  another 
mansion,  and  he  had  good-naturedly  yielded   to 

153 


THE    COURT  JESTER 

the  wishes  of  the  mischievous  dames  and  pro- 
longed his  stay  in  consequence.  The  archduke  was 
friendly  to  everybody,  and  on  his  way  to  and  from 
the  outdoor  sports  that  were  arranged  for  him 
he  chatted  affably  with  any  peasant  with  whom  he 
happened  to  come  in  contact,  and  when  we  read 
such  things  of  him  we  are  not  surprised  that  the 
people  adored  him. 

But,  however  pleasant  it  may  have  been  at  Castle 
Hohenberg,  there  were  plenty  of  other  places  in 
Maximilian's  wide  domain  that  longed  for  him 
or  needed  him,  or  both,  and  ere  long  the  party  was 
ready  to  continue  its  journey  along  the  Rhine. 

On  the  morning  of  their  departure  Marguerite 
heard  a  gay  song  in  the  courtyard  beneath  her  win- 
dow; it  was  Cimburga,  who  was  going  to  feed  the 
doves.  The  birds  immediately  flew  to  meet  their 
friend,  settling  on  her  shoulders,  her  head,  and  the 
basket  in  which  she  had  brought  their  food,  the 
sunlight  bringing  out  the  rose  tints  in  the  gray  of 
their  plumage.  The  girl  scattered  the  grain  with 
a  lavish  hand,  and  then  held  the  end  of  a  crust  of 
bread  between  her  white  teeth,  turning  her  face 
toward  her  shoulder,  upon  which  two  of  the  most 
impertinent  of  the  doves  had  settled,  followed  by 
a  host  of  others,  who  quarreled  over  the  morsel  at 
such  a  rate  that  Cimburga,  laughing,  threw  it  at 
them,  saying,  "  Take  it,  then,  greedy  ones,  since  you 
can  not  wait." 

The  Lady  Marguerite  called  to  the  maid,  and 

IS4 


Marguerite  heard  a  gay  song  in  the  courtyard      Page  i^^ 


A   ROYAL   ALCHEMIST 

the  latter  glancing  upward  beheld  a  picture  which 
she  never  forgot  as  long  as  she  lived,  and  which 
always  seemed  to  her  like  the  recollection  of  a 
beautiful  young  saint  who  had  come  to  life  in  its 
niche.  In  the  arched  window  of  the  gray  old 
castle  stood  the  little  princess,  her  bright  uncovered 
hair  like  a  halo  about  her  face,  which  beamed  upon 
the  maid  with  a  gracious  smile.  Marguerite  was 
not  an  angel,  as  the  jester  had  well  said,  but  to  the 
girl  who  now  gazed  upon  her,  and  who  had  re- 
ceived so  great  a  boon  at  her  hands,  she  seemed 
more  than  human. 

The  daughter  of  the  Hapsburgs  ignored  for 
the  moment  the  gulf  that  divided  her  from  this 
child  of  the  people,  just  as  her  father  often  did 
in  similar  circumstances.  "Are  you  happy  now, 
Cimburga?"  she  asked  gently. 

*'Oh,  so  happy,  your  gracious  Highness,  and  all 
thanks  to  you!"  returned  the  girl.  "The  mistress 
has  given  me  a  wedding  dress  of  a  beautiful  blue, 
the  color  that  belongs  to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and 
we  are  to  be  married  next  week.  And  Karl's 
father  has  found  an  inn  for  him  farther  south, 
called  The  Flying  Fawn.  And  I  am  to  be  the 
landlady  of  an  inn!"  She  paused  and  looked 
very  serious  for  a  moment  at  the  thought  of  her  new 
dignity.  Then  she  broke  into  a  peal  of  laughter 
at  nothing  at  all,  but  just  from  pure  happiness. 

"  I  am  glad  because  you  are  glad,  Cimburga," 
said  the  princess  gently. 

155 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

"And  indeed,  your  Highness,  I  shall  pray  every 
night  to  Saint  Joseph  to  send  you  as  good  a  husband 
as  I  have  myself,"  continued  the  girl  earnestly. 
Marguerite  smiled  at  this,  but  after  all  -there  was 
many  a  prince  who  would  not  be  so  kind  to  his 
royal  wife  as  humble  Karl  would  be  to  the  maiden 
of  his  choice. 

At  Metz  they  were  greeted  by  Marguerite's 
brother,  a  handsome  boy  known  to  history  as 
Philip  of  Flanders.  He  was  about  to  go  to  that 
country  to  remain,  and  so  we  shall  see  very  little 
of  him  in  this  story. 

Everywhere  in  their  own  domain  the  emperor 
and  his  daughter  had  been  received  with  every 
demonstration  of  delight  by  their  loyal  people,  and 
at  Metz  they  were  royally  entertained  by  the  Duke 
of  Lorraine,  who  caused  to  be  given  on  his  won- 
derful stage  a  play  for  their  amusement. 

It  was  a  very  queer  theater,  or  at  least  it  would 
look  so  to  us  to-day,  and  the  plays  produced  there 
did  not  in  the  least  resemble  those  we  are  accus- 
tomed to  see. 

Plays  in  the  beginning  were  given  in  Latin,  and 
were  played  in  churches  on  Christmas,  Easter,  and 
Good  Friday.  But  when  they  began  to  be  recited 
in  the  language  spoken  by  the  people  the  church 
would  have  none  of  them,  and  they  were  per- 
formed in  the  open  air.  The  stage  at  Metz  was 
nine  stories  high,  and  as  to  whether  their  costumes 
were  appropriate  or  the  contrary  was  a  question 

156 


A  ROYAL  ALCHEMIST 

which  seemed  to  trouble  the  actors  very  little,  and 
it  must  have  seemed  rather  odd  to  see  the  angel 
Gabriel  appear  in  a  robe  that  had  been  worn  by 
his  Satanic  Majesty  in  a  previous  scene.  There 
were  a  great  many  people  in  the  play,  which  must 
have  been  very  confusing,  because  of  the  comic 
interludes  where  clowns  danced  about  performing 
their  various  antics,  which  had  nothing  what- 
ever to  do  with  the  play  itself.  The  piece  wit- 
nessed by  Maximilian  and  his  suite  lasted  for  three 
days,  and  Le  Glorieux  declared  that  he  for  one 
was  glad  when  it  was  finished. 

"  But  you  can  not  see  such  spectacles  every  day," 
said  Philibert. 

*' Thank  fortune  for  that!"  said  the  fool. 

"  But  are  you  not  fond  of  the  drama?  " 

"  Yes,  and  I  am  also  fond  of  bread,  but  I  should 
not  like  to  eat  bread  every  minute  for  three  days." 

At  Linz  they  stopped  to  pay  their  respects  to  the 
old  emperor,  whom  Marguerite  never  had  seen,  or 
at  least  not  since  her  babyhood,  which  does  not 
count.  Frederick  the  Third  was  almost  eighty 
years  old  now.  He  had  given  up  the  government 
of  the  country  to  his  son,  and  had  retired  to  his 
palace  at  Linz,  where  he  pursued  his  "studies," 
as  he  called  them,  and  which  he  fondly  imagined 
them  to  be,  though  to-day  his  pursuits  would  make 
a  boy  of  average  intelligence  smile  broadly. 

When  Frederick  was  selected  to  be  the  emperor 
of  Austria   he  thought  over  the  matter  for  eleven 

157 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

weeks  before  he  could  make  up  his  mind  to  accept 
the  honor  thus  proffered  him.  He  never  has  been 
called  a  wise  or  a  worthy  ruler;  quite  the  contrary, 
indeed;  but  the  fact  that  he  took  time  to  think  the 
matter  over  shows  that  he  realized  that  the  duties 
of  his  position  would  not  be  child's  play,  and  as 
he  had  reigned  for  more  than  fifty  years,  it  may 
be  supposed  that  he  was  rather  tired  of  it  by  this 
time.  The  emperor  was  a  tall,  white-haired  old 
man  of  majestic  appearance,  with  a  heavy,  pro- 
truding under  lip.  He  kissed  his  son  on  both 
cheeks,  and  saluted  his  granddaughter  in  the  same 
way,  though  without  any  extravagant  display  of 
affection,  doubtless  having  his  mind  at  the  mo- 
ment on  his  laboratory,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
trying  a  number  of  experiments,  of  which  writers 
of  his  day  speak  with  a  great  deal  of  respect,  not 
to  say  awe. 

Wishing  to  entertain  her  royal  grandfather, 
Marguerite  asked  Antoine  to  sing  for  him.  The 
old  emperor  listened  with  a  dreamy  expression  of 
countenance,  as  one  who  is  absorbed  in  his  own 
thoughts,  and  when  the  song  was  finished  he  asked 
his  granddaughter  and  the  boys  to  accompany 
him  to  his  laboratory,  where  they  were,  of  course, 
followed  by  Le  Glorieux. 

The  laboratory  was  fitted  up  with  all  the  ap- 
pointments that  could  possibly  be  suggested  by  the 
"  studies "  of  the  great  man  who  spent  so  much 
of  his  time  within  its  four  walls.     There  were 

158 


A   ROYAL    ALCHEMIST 

globes  and  compasses,  and  maps  of  the  starry 
heavens,  for  the  emperor  was  very  learned  in 
astrology.  "  It  was  a  comet  that  came  to  tell  me 
of  the  birth  of  the  King  of  the  Romans,  my  son," 
said  he  solemnly.  "  It  was  necessary  that  a  brave 
and  wise  prince  should  succeed  me,  and  just  before 
his  birth  a  pale  light  was  seen  in  the  sky,  which 
attracted  the  attention  of  learned  men  everywhere, 
and  which  proved  to  be  a  comet,  growing  larger 
and  larger  each  night,  reaching  its  greatest  bril- 
liancy on  the  night  of  my  son's  birth.  The  next 
night  it  was  less  bright,  and  before  many  nights 
it  had  disappeared!" 

The  emperor  paused  here,  and  no  one  remarked 
that  this  behavior  on  the  part  of  comets  is  not 
unusual.  Then  he  continued,  "  Until  my  son  was 
twelve  years  of  age  I  thought  he  was  going  to  be 
either  a  mute  or  a  fool.  There  was  no  sign  of 
any  but  a  very  ordinary  grade  of  intelligence,  and 
I  lost  faith  in  the  glorious  predictions  regarding 
him  that  I  had  read  in  the  heavens.  He  learned 
his  lessons  only  after  a  series  of  floggings,  and  I 
feared  that  my  realm  was  to  be  governed  by  a 
weakling.  But  why  should  I  have  doubted  the 
assurance  given  me  by  the  planets?  My  son  came 
out  of  his  stupidity  as  from  a  dream,  and  he  is 
now  one  of  the  most  learned  of  men.  He  can 
address  the  ambassadors  of  eight  different  coun- 
tries, each  in  his  own  language;  he  can  dictate 
a  number  of  letters  at  once,  each  in  a  different 

159 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

tongue.     And  the  stars  have  said  that  Austria  will 
become  the  mistress  of  the  world." 

Although  we  know  that  the  old  emperor  left  a 
writing  to  the  efifect  that  his  country  would  ex- 
ceed all  others  in  greatness,  the  prediction  did  not 
come  true,  showing  that  the  stars  frequently  make 
mistakes. 

The  visitors  examined  the  contents  of  the  labora- 
tory with  great  interest.  The  shelves  contained 
all  sorts  of  bottles  and  retorts,  and  the  vessels  in 
which  he  stirred  his  mixtures  were  marked  with 
a  red  cross  to  keep  out  the  demon,  who,  it  was  be- 
lieved, had  an  inconvenient  and  impertinent  way 
of  meddling  with  such  things. 

The  Lady  Marguerite  held  in  her  hand  a  red 
rose,  which  was  given  to  her  by  the  head  gardener, 
and  which,  being  of  a  rare  variety,  was  greatly 
cherished  by  that  functionary,  and  thought  to  be 
a  suitable  gift,  even  for  a  princess.  The  emperor 
reached  out  his  hand  for  the  rose,  and  taking  it 
from  her,  he  popped  it  into  a  jar,  where  it  soon 
became  as  white  as  snow.  Then,  taking  It  out 
again,  he  said,  "  It  would  be  a  pity  to  spoil  a  lady's 
flower,"  and  throwing  it  into  another  jar,  it  became 
its  own  rich  red  again. 

This  feat  seemed  almost  a  miracle  to  the  four 
spectators  who  witnessed  it,  though  a  chemist  to- 
day would  think  nothing  of  it.  To  make  sugar 
and  alcohol  out  of  an  old  linen  shirt,  to  make  all 
the  colors  of  the  rainbow,  to  say  nothing  of  medi- 

i6o 


He  popped  ihe  rose  into  a  jar  i'''g^  lOO 


A   ROYAL   ALCHEMIST 

cines  and  perfumes,  and  a  substance  many  times 
sweeter  than  sugar,  out  of  a  thing  so  black  and 
sticky  and  generally  unpromising  as  coal  tar,  are 
a  few  of  the  feats  accomplished  by  the  chemists 
of  our  own  time,  but  which  would  have  made  the 
alchemists  of  Frederick's  day  gasp  for  breath. 

"  Here,"  said  the  emperor,  taking  up  a  long 
slender  vial,  "  is  a  specific  for  many  ailments,  which 
I  have  succeeded  in  making  out  of  a  few  drops  of 
water.  And  here,"  he  went  on,  taking  up  a  yellow 
piece  of  parchment  covered  with  hieroglyphics 
and  strange  characters,  "  is  a  recipe  which  came 
to  me  from  the  Orient,  and  said  to  have  been 
greatly  prized  by  Hermes  Tris-me-gistus."  He 
drew  out  the  long  name  to  its  fullest  extent, 
and  Le  Glorieux  whispered  to  Antoine,  "  Is  it 
not  strange  that  at  his  age  he  can  remember 
such  things?  If  I  had  a  friend  of  that  name  and 
wanted  to  write  him  a  letter,  I  could  never  do 
it  in  this  world,  for  by  the  time  I  had  written 
the  first  part  of  the  name  I  would  have  forgotten 
the  last  of  it.  Yet  this  old  man  rattles  it  ofif  as 
easily  as  if  he  were  telling  what  he  would  like  for 
breakfast.  It  must  be  because  the  Germans  are 
used  to  such  long  words  that  nothing  in  that  line 
staggers  them." 

"  This  tells  how  to  make  gold,"  said  the  emperor, 
regarding  the  parchment  with  great  satisfaction. 
"  It  begins,  '  Catch  the  flying  bird  and  drown  it 
that  it  may  fly  no  more.'    You  would  be  puzzled 

i6i 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

at  the  meaning  of  that  sentence,  would  you  not?  " 
he  asked,  turning  with  a  superior  smile  to  his  au- 
dience, all  of  whom  murmured  a  respectful  affirm- 
ative, save  Le  Glorieux,  who  said,  "  I  should  say 
it  was  directions  as  to  how  to  prepare  a  fowl  for 
the  spit.  Though  I  should  advise  cutting  its  head 
ofif,  which  is  a  much  quicker  and  more  respectable 
way  than  to  drown  it." 

"Ha,  ha  I"  cackled  the  old  emperor.  "Wiser 
men  than  yourself.  Fool,  might  think  the  same 
thing.  '  The  flying  bird '  means  quicksilver,  which 
is  very  easy  to  change  into  gold." 

"  Since  he  knows  so  well  how  to  make  gold,  I 
wonder  why  he  is  so  stingy,"  whispered  the  jester 
to  Antoine.  The  latter  shook  his  head  and  made 
no  reply,  this  being  a  problem  too  deep  for  him 
to  solve. 

"  But  the  making  of  gold,"  went  on  Frederick, 
"  is  attended  with  great  danger.  Nature  is  very 
jealous  of  her  riches,  and  conceals  her  precious 
metals  in  the  most  inaccessible  spots,  and  in  trying 
to  make  it  we  are  likely  to  meet  with  a  terrible 
explosive." 

The  emperor  took  a  ring  from  his  finger  set 
with  a  large  diamond.  "  This  stone,"  said  he,  "  is 
called  the  '  indomitable  one,'  for  it  is  the  hardest 
of  all.  It  is  the  most  beautiful  of  gems,  for  it  has 
the  flash  of  the  emerald,  the  gleam  of  the  sapphire, 
and  the  glow  of  the  ruby.  Around  the  origin  of 
this  stone  Nature  has  woven  a  mystery;  she  has 

162 


A   ROYAL   ALCHEMIST 

allied  it  to  charcoal  and  other  black  substances. 
But  I  can  make  it  by  adding  colors  to  pebbles,  as  I 
can  make  rubies,  emeralds,  and  sapphires." 

"  Did  you  make  the  stone  in  your  ring.  Grand- 
father?" asked  the  princess  innocently. 

"  No,"  replied  the  emperor. 

"  Why  does  he  not  show  us  one  that  he  has 
made?"  whispered  Le  Glorieux  to  Antoine,  and 
it  certainly  seemed  as  if  the  proof  of  this  state- 
ment should  be  forthcoming,  since,  ''If  Peter 
Piper  picked  a  peck  of  pickled  peppers,  ivhere 
is  the  peck  of  pickled  peppers  that  Peter  Piper 
picked?"  But  a  writer  of  his  time  assures  us 
that  Frederick  actually  made  precious  stones  out 
of  pebbles,  so  he  must  have  been  content  to  take 
the  emperor's  word  for  it. 

"  Here,"  said  the  royal  alchemist,  taking  up  a 
second  scroll  of  yellow  parchment,  "  is  another 
formula  which  caused  me  much  trouble  and  ex- 
pense to  procure.  It  tells  how  to  make  thunder 
and  lightning." 

The  emperor,  with  his  profound  knowledge  of 
the  heavens  and  the  secrets  of  the  earth,  was  an 
object  of  too  much  awe  to  Le  Glorieux  to  be  joked 
with,  as  he  was  in  the  habit  of  doing,  but  he  said  to 
Philibert  as  they  left  their  august  host,  "  Of  course, 
it  may  be  a  great  pleasure  to  know  how  to  make 
thunder  and  lightning,  and  a  man  who  is  fond 
of  excitement  and  tired  of  a  quiet  life  might  do 
it  sometimes  just  to  amuse  himself.     But,  speaking 

163 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

for  myself,  I  do  not  think  I  should  like  to  mix  up 
such  a  mess,  at  least  not  often." 

It  was  in  that  same  year  that  the  emperor  died, 
leaving  Maximilian  ruler  in  name  as  he  had  been 
for  some  time  in  fact.  He  was  in  possession  of 
the  domains  of  the  Hapsburgs,  as  well  as  those 
of  the  Dukes  of  Burgundy,  and  he  was  served  by 
kings  and  electors.  Still,  in  spite  of  his  exalted 
position,  he  did  not  become  cold  and  forbidding 
in  his  manner,  remaining  frank  and  affable  as 
he  had  been  before.  Writers  have  criticised  him 
for  his  friendly  ways,  but  after  all  is  it  not  better 
for  a  ruler  to  be  the  darling  of  his  people  than 
always  to  be  on  his  dignity,  afraid  to  show  a  little 
human  friendliness  and  good  feeling? 

The  year  after  Maximilian  became  emperor  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Bianca  Sforza,  an  Italian 
lady.  When  this  marriage  was  first  mentioned  Le 
Glorieux  said  to  the  Lady  Marguerite,  "I  can 
learn  nothing  about  your  new  mother  save  that 
she  is  high-tempered,  and  fond  of  a  certain  kind 
of  shellfish.  It  seems  to  me  there  ought  to  be 
something  more  to  say  about  a  woman  than  just 
that!" 

The  princess  accepted  her  new  mother  as  a  mat- 
ter of  course.  This  marriage  was  an  affair  of 
mere  business;  the  emperor  needed  money  with 
which  to  fight  Charles  the  Eighth  of  France,  and 
money  he  would  obtain  by  his  marriage  with  this 
lady,  who  was   far  inferior   to  her  predecessor, 

164 


A   ROYAL   ALCHEMIST 

Mary  of  Burgundy,  both  in  education  and  beauty. 
Although  Frederick  had  claimed  to  have  discov- 
ered the  secret  of  turning  quicksilver  into  gold,  he 
did  not  seem  to  have  left  the  recipe  behind  him, 
for  the  purse  of  his  son  was  always  gaunt  and  long- 
ing to  be  filled. 

The  Lady  Clotilde  had  not  returned  to  France,  as 
it  had  been  her  intention  to  do;  she  had  found  that 
the  climate  of  Austria  agreed  with  her  health  to 
a  degree  little  short  of  marvelous.  She  said  that 
there  were  certain  viands  that  she  would  not  dare 
to  touch  in  Burgundy,  Brittany,  or  France,  but 
which  in  the  German  empire  did  her  all  the  good 
in  the  world.  Of  course,  she  was  going  away  soon, 
next  month,  or  surely  the  month  after;  but  still 
the  Lady  Clotilde  lingered  on. 

Philibert,  finding  greater  advantages  here  for  a 
young  gentleman  of  rank  than  in  his  own  coun- 
try, also  remained.  It  seemed  that  the  Count  de 
Bresse,  his  father,  absorbed  in  his  own  schemes — 
and  they  were  not  always  innocent  ones — had 
almost  forgotten  that  he  owned  a  son,  and  the  boy 
was  well  contented  to  be  thus  neglected,  being 
perfectly  happy  in  his  new  surroundings.  In 
those  days  nations  were  almost  continually  en- 
gaged in  some  kind  of  turmoil,  either  fighting 
each  other  or  trying  to  make  peace,  and  Austria 
had  its  share  of  such  proceedings;  but  at  this  time 
the  principal  characters  of  this  story  saw  only  the 
pleasant  side  of  life.     Antoine  became  more  and 

i6s 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

more  proficient  in  his  music;  Philibert  became 
quite  scholarly  at  the  court  of  this  emperor,  who 
surrounded  himself  with  scholars;  Le  Glorieux 
amused  himself  and  everybody  else,  while  the  prin- 
cess was  put  under  the  care  of  her  tutors,  and, 
taking  a  leaf  from  her  father's  book,  was  always 
affable  and  gracious  to  her  inferiors. 


i66 


CHAPTER   IX 

PHILIBERT    IN    DANGER 

Three  years  had  passed.  Philibert  and  Antoine 
now  were  tall  youths,  and  Marguerite  was  a  slen- 
der, graceful  maiden  of  fifteen. 

"  I  am  sorry  that  she  is  growing  up,"  said  Cune- 
gunda  to  Le  Glorieux. 

"  Then  am  I  to  infer  that  you  are  fond  of 
dwarfs?"  asked  he. 

"  No,  but  do  you  not  see  that  as  soon  as  she  be- 
comes a  woman  she  must  marry?  " 

"  Most  women  do,"  he  returned,  "  and  most  of 
them  are  equally  discontented,  whether  they  do 
or  do  not." 

"  And  small  wonder,  since  they  must  marry 
men,"  said  Cunegunda.  Le  Glorieux  could  al- 
ways throw  her  into  a  temper.  "  I  did  not  marry 
again,  and  I  am  not  discontented,"  she  added. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  that  you  have  made  many 
a  man  discontented  by  refusing  them  right  and 
left,"  said  the  fool   politely. 

Cunegunda  smiled,  but  looked  serious  again  as 
she  said  dolefully,  "  Our  princess  must  marry  and 
go  to  live  in  a  strange  land.  How  I  wish  that 
she  were  merely  the  child  of  a  nobleman  instead 
of  being  the  daughter  of  the  emperor;  then  she 

167 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

could  remain  in  Austria.  Now  she  must  go 
away." 

"You  are  getting  ready  to  cry  again,"  said  the 
jester,  in  an  injured  tone.  "  I  am  supposed  to 
make  people  laugh.  Even  his  Majesty  laughs  at 
me.  But  there  seems  to  be  something  about  me 
that  makes  you  cry.  If  you  will  tell  me  what  it 
is  I  will  change  it,  both  for  your  benefit  and  my 
own.  That  you  can  not  see  the  point  of  a  joke, 
no  matter  if  it  is  as  big  as  my  head,  is  perhaps  not 
your  fault;  but  it  seems  to  me  that  you  might  keep 
from  bursting  into  tears  every  time  you  see  me  or 
hear  the  jingle  of  my  bells." 

Philibert  de  Bresse  approached;  he  was  dressed 
in  all  the  grandeur  of  the  time,  and  a  fine  sword 
hung  by  his  side.  "What  is  the  trouble  with 
Dame  Cunegunda?"  he  asked. 

"Nothing  in  particular,"  replied  the  fool,  "  save 
that  she  wants  our  princess  to  marry  a  hair-dresser, 
or  some  person  of  the  kind." 

"  I  said  nothing  about  a  hair-dresser,  and  you 
know  it!"  snapped  the  indignant  woman.  "I  do 
not  want  my  little  lady  to  go  away  to  a  strange 
country.  I  am  now  past  middle  age,  and  I  am 
attached  to  my  own  land  and  do  not  want  to 
leave  it." 

"  I  was  not  aware  that  the  emperor  was  ar- 
ranging a  foreign  match  for  you,"  remarked 
Le  Glorieux. 

Deeming  this  piece  of  satire  too  trivial  to  no- 

i68 


CK;vtv\fc<\v<_7' 


**  Something  about  me  makes  you  cry  "      Page  i68 


PHILIBERT   IN   DANGER 

tice,  Cunegunda  said,  "  I  must  go  with  my  lady 
wherever  she  goes,  for  so  I  promised  her  mother." 

"  Is  that  promise  to  hold  good  until  she  is 
ninety?"  asked  Le  Glorieux. 

"  It  is  to  hold  good  as  long  as  there  is  breath 
in  my  body,  and  she  does  not  forbid  me  to  ac- 
company her." 

"  But  there  is  no  danger — I  mean  there  Is  no 
prospect  of  the  Lady  Marguerite's  making  a  for- 
eign marriage?"  asked  Philibert   hastily. 

"  I  am  very  much  inclined  to  believe  that  there 
is,"  replied  Le  Glorieux.  "  If  nothing  of  the  kind 
happens  soon,  it  will  not  be  the  fault  of  that  dark- 
browed  Spanish  envoy,  Don  Juan  Manuel.  He 
is  quiet  and  cold,  but  he  is  always  thinking.  Not 
that  most  people  are  not  always  thinking  when 
they  are  quiet,  for  few  people's  brains  are  swept 
quite  empty  of  thoughts,  but  his  thinking  counts 
for  something.  He  knows  quite  well  what  he  is 
about,  does  Manuel.  He  is  always  talking  to  our 
emperor,  who  listens  with  a  great  deal  of  atten- 
tion to  all  that  he  says,  and  whatever  it  is,  it  will 
be  a  good  thing  for  Spain,  you  can  make  up  your 
mind  to  that." 

"And  who  is  this  Spaniard  who  has  so  much 
influence  over  the  Emperor  of  Austria?"  asked 
Philibert  hotly.  "  He  is  a  nobody,  an  ordinary 
Castilian,  who  managed  to  attract  the  attention  of 
the  Queen  of  Spain,  afterward  gaining  her  con- 
fidence when  he  became  her  secretary." 

169 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

"Well,  that  he  did  gain  her  confidence,  and  that 
he  has  a  good  deal  of  influence  over  Max,  is  a  fact 
nevertheless,"  returned  the  fool.  "The  young 
Prince  of  the  Asturias  is  of  the  right  age  to  marry, 
and  will  be  a  suitable  match  for  our  princess,  and, 
so  far  as  I  am  concerned,  I  am  perfectly  willing 
that  they  should  marry,  for  I  think  that  I  should 
like  to  live  in  Spain.  The  climate  is  very  fine, 
there  would  not  be  so  much  trouble  in  keep- 
ing warm  as  there  is  here,  and  I  am  fond  of 
oranges." 

"The  Spanish  match  is  not  made  yet,  and  how 
do  you  know  that  the  Lady  Marguerite  would  take 
you  with  her,  even  if  she  should  go  to  Spain?" 
asked  Cunegunda  disdainfully. 

"  How  do  I  know  that  she  would  take  her  shoes 
with  her  to  Spain?"  he  inquired.  "I  have  be- 
come a  necessity  to  her;  she  could  not  get  on  with- 
out me.  Besides  that,  I  was  a  present  to  her  from 
the  Lady  Anne,  now  Queen  of  France.  If  I  was 
valuable  when  I  was  the  present  of  a  mere  duchess, 
my  value  has  increased  tenfold  now  that  I  am 
the  gift  of  a  queen.  So  do  not  talk  any  more  non- 
sense about  my  not  going,  for  I  shall  be  the  first 
one  to  be  considered." 

"  I  do  not  want  to  go  away  to  a  strange  country," 
reiterated  Cunegunda,  and  she  went  away  wiping 
her  eyes. 

Philibert  walked  slowly  to  the  other  end  of 
the  room,  seeming  to  be  absorbed  in  unpleasant 

170 


PHILIBERT   IN   DANGER 

thought,  and  the  jester  followed  him,  chattering 
all  the  while,  but  getting  no  reply. 

"  Philbert,  my  boy,"  said  he,  "  I  can  see  that  you 
are  in  a  sour  and  unhappy  frame  of  mind.  I  feel 
that  the  remark  I  made  about  the  climate  and  the 
oranges  of  Spain  has  made  you  restless  and  envious. 
Besides  that,  you  do  not  want  to  be  separated  from 
me,  for  nobody  does.  Now,  I  have  a  great  deal  of 
influence  with  my  young  mistress,  and  I  will  per- 
suade her  to  let  you  go  to  Spain  in  her  suite. 
Think  of  it!  How  fine  it  will  be  to  hear  the 
pretty  senoritas  tinkling  their  guitars,  to  pluck  the 
olives  from  the  trees — not  that  I  care  for  them 
when  they  are  plucked — and  to  see  that  great  pal- 
ace which  the  Spanish  sovereigns  snatched  from 
the  Moors;  and  they  say  there  is  a  bedstead  made 
from  the  gold  that  the  Admiral  Columbus  brought 
from  the  new  lands  across  the  sea;  perhaps,  if  we 
manage  it  right  we  may  be  allowed  to  sleep  in 
that — in  the  bed,  I  mean,  not  the  sea." 

"  Do  not  talk  to  me  of  Spain,"  said  Philibert 
impatiently.  "  I  hate  the  country,  and  I  never 
want  to  see  it." 

"  Philibert,  my  boy,"  said  the  fool,  not  at  all 
disturbed  by  this  outburst,  "  you  are  growing 
quick-tempered.  I  have  noticed  it  for  some  time. 
Try  to  cultivate  a  sweet  and  gentle  disposition.  I 
hope  I  am  not  conceited,  but  really  you  would  be 
more  agreeable  if  you  were  more  like  me." 

The  sound  of  gay  laughter  and  buzz  of  conversa- 

171 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

tion  was  heard,  and  the  Lady  Marguerite  and  her 
ladies,  followed  by  a  number  of  gentlemen,  en- 
tered the  salon.  The  princess  wore  a  gown  of 
white,  with  wide  sleeves  that  almost  touched  the 
floor;  the  heavy  braids  of  her  hair,  wound  with 
ropes  of  pearls,  fell  far  below  her  waist,  while  a 
fillet  of  the  same  jewels  clasped  her  brow.  She 
came  toward  the  window  near  which  Philibert 
and  the  jester  stood,  and  said  with  a  bright  smile, 
*^  I  am  very  happy.  My  father  has  promised  that 
I  shall  go  with  him  to  the  mountains  when  he  goes 
to  hunt  chamois.  Never  before  would  he  give  his 
consent  to  my  going." 

"  To  climb  rocks  and  leap  chasms  after  chamois 
would,  I  should  think,  be  very  entertaining  pas- 
time for  a  lady,"  said  Le  Glorieux.  "And  you 
will  look  well  if  your  long  locks  should  get  caught 
in  a  crag  and  leave  you  suspended  like  a  spider 
from  its  web." 

"  Oh,  I  do  not  intend  to  hunt,"  she  replied, 
laughing.  "  We  ladies  will  stop  at  the  inn  at  the 
foot  of  the  mountain,  and  go  just  a  little  way  up 
to  see  the  hunters  start." 

"  It  will  be  more  enjoyable  if  Philibert  and 
Antoine  and  I  should  go  along,"  said  Le  Glorieux. 

"Oh,  yes;  you  shall  go,  if  you  like,  and  one  of 
you  shall  get  me  a  flower  of  the  edelweiss  from 
some  inaccessible  crag." 

Senor  Manuel,  the  Spanish  envoy,  now  joined 
them,  in  a  hesitating  manner,  as  one  who  does  not 

172 


'♦Come,  Philibert,  please  cut  ihis  cord  for  me  "      Page  77? 


PHILIBERT  IN   DANGER 

wish  to  intrude,  yet  who  has  something  of  impor- 
tance to  say.  "  I  have  something  here  that  I  was 
ordered  to  give  to  your  Highness,"  said  he.  "  It 
is  a  gift  from  his  royal  Highness,  the  Prince  of  the 
Asturias."  He  drew  a  small  packet  from  his  breast, 
which  he  placed  in  her  hand  with  a  profound 
obeisance,  and  withdrew  without  more  words. 

"  Oh,"  said  the  princess,  "  I  wonder  what  it  can 
be ! "  She  tried  eagerly  to  undo  the  wrappings,  for 
she  was  young  enough  to  be  very  anxious  regard- 
ing a  present.  Taking  a  seat  in  the  window  she 
busied  herself  with  the  cord,  which  she  twisted  into 
a  hopeless  tangle  in  her  haste  to  untie  it.  "  Come, 
Philibert,"  she  called  impatiently,  "  please  cut  this 
cord  for  me." 

He  took  the  package  from  her  hand  and  broke 
the  cord  in  his  strong  fingers  so  suddenly  and  so 
vigorously  that  the  wrappings  fell  apart  and  a 
portrait  fell  with  a  sharp  click  to  the  floor. 

*'  You  must  not  open  a  package  as  if  you  were 
trying  to  throttle  an  assassin,"  said  Le  Glorieux 
reproachfully,  as  Philibert  with  an  apology  re- 
covered the  portrait  and  placed  it  in  the  Lady 
Marguerite's  hand. 

"  Her  Highness  is  unfortunate  in  asking  the 
assistance  of  one  so  awkward,"  murmured  Phili- 
bert, and  with  a  bow  he  withdrew. 

But  Marguerite  did  not  look  at  him,  so  intent 
was  she  in  examining  the  portrait.  "  Come  and 
see  what  was  sent  to  me  by  Don  Juan,  Prince  of 

173 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

the  Asturias,"  she  said  to  the  other  ladies,  some 
of  whom  were  young,  and  all  as  eager  to  see  it  as 
herself.  The  portrait  was  painted  on  ivory,  and 
was  surrounded  by  diamonds;  it  was  of  a  youth  on 
the  threshold  of  manhood,  a  gentle,  pleasing  face, 
with  blue  eyes  and  fair  hair. 

"  I  thought  Spaniards  were  dark,"  said  Mar- 
guerite. 

"The  Prince  could  not  well  be  dark,  since  his 
father  and  mother  both  are  fair,"  said  one  of  the 
gentlemen,  who  had  visited  the  court  of  Spain. 
"  His  mother,  Queen  Isabella,  is  descended  from 
the  great  English  House  of  Plantagenet,  both  of 
her  parents  coming  from  that  royal  family." 

"  So  much  the  better  if  he  is  light,"  remarked 
the  jester.  "  My  own  hair  is  light,  being  indeed 
of  a  fine  reddish  tinge,  though  the  cap  I  wear  con- 
ceals its  beauty  from  the  world,  which  is  a  pity.  I 
never  have  known  many  Spaniards,  but  I  am  sure 
I  should  be  fonder  of  a  light-haired  one  than  of 
that  dark  ambassador  with  his  black  hair  always 
as  smooth  as  glass,  like  the  head  of  a  snake,  and 
who  glides  in  and  out  so  silently  that  you  never 
see  him  until  he  stands  before  you." 

Marguerite's  ladies  expressed  a  great  deal  of 
admiration  for  the  picture,  which  they  considered 
a  very  handsome  face,  but  perhaps  their  opinion 
was  biased  by  the  fact  that  the  original  was  the 
future  king  of  one  of  the  richest  and  most  power- 
ful nations  in  Europe.     But  Marguerite  slipped 

174 


PHILIBERT   IN    DANGER 

the  portrait  beneath  her  girdle  and  expressed  no 
further  opinion  concerning  it. 

The  court  was  now  staying  in  the  royal  castle 
of  Innsbruck  in  the  Tyrol.  Maximilian  cherished 
a  fond  affection  for  this  country,  because  he  had 
added  it  to  the  possessions  left  him  by  his  father. 
In  his  bedchamber  at  Innsbruck  are  to  be  found 
these  lines,  "  I,  king  by  the  grace  of  God,  wear  the 
crown  that  I  may  protect  the  poor,  and  be  just  to 
all,  and  in  order  that  we  may  all  live  in  peace 
eternal." 

The  landlord  of  the  The  Hunter's  Rest,  the  inn 
at  the  foot  of  the  mountains  where  his  Majesty 
went  to  hunt,  had  entertained  the  emperor  more 
than  once;  but  he  was  somewhat  overwhelmed  by 
the  company  of  ladies,  who  now  formed  a  part  of 
the  imperial  party.  Maximilian,  as  usual  upon  such 
occasions,  was  plainly  dressed;  he  wore  a  green 
hunting  suit  somewhat  the  worse  for  wear,  for  he 
was  not  particular  regarding  his  personal  appear- 
ance when  engaged  in  his  favorite  pastime  of 
chasing  the  chamois.  An  Alpine  hat  with  a  single 
feather  was  worn  where  the  crown  of  the  Haps- 
burgs  had  rested,  while  his  aristocratic  feet  were 
encased  in  stout  hunting  boots.  Yes,  the  emperor 
was  more  like  one  of  themselves;  he  was  always 
so  merry,  laughing  and  joking  with  the  landlord's 
wife,  chucking  the  roly-poly  children  under  their 
chins,  exchanging  a  good-natured  word  with  any- 
body who  happened  to  drop  in,  that  he  won  all 

175 


THE    COURT  JESTER 

hearts,  and  they  forgot  their  awe  of  the  emperor  in 
their  admiration  of  the  man. 

But  these  ladies  in  their  elegant  fur-trimmed 
gowns  and  their  dainty  little  ways, — would  any- 
thing that  the  inn  afforded  be  half  good  enough  for 
them?  The  landlord  soon  found,  however,  that  the 
greatest  lady  among  them,  the  princess  herself, 
was  sweet  and  gracious,  and  she  even  kissed  the 
dimpled  face  of  the  baby,  an  act  on  her  part  which 
never  was  forgotten,  and  which  the  child  herself 
lived  to  tell  to  her  grandchildren,  always  point- 
ing to  the  exact  spot  which  her  good  mother  had 
informed  her  had  been  brushed  by  the  rosy  lips 
of  her  Highness,  the  Lady  Marguerite  of  Haps- 
burg.  And  the  other  ladies  were  obliged  to  un- 
bend in  imitation  of  their  young  mistress,  and  so 
they  were  far  less  awe-inspiring  than  had  been 
expected. 

The  ladies  accompanied  the  hunters  a  little  way 
up  the  mountain,  until  the  ascent  became  steep  and 
tiresome,  and  then  they  returned  to  the  inn.  There 
the  princess,  Vv^ho  was  very  fond  of  pets,  was  greatly 
attracted  by  a  baby  chamois,  a  little  kid,  which 
had  been  adopted  by  the  landlord's  children.  He 
was  a  cunning  little  fellow,  with  bright  eyes 
that  seemed  to  sparkle  with  fun  when  she  stroked 
his  foolish  little  face  and  soft  velvety  ears.  When 
she  spoke  to  him  he  would  turn  his  head  to  one  side 
as  if  reflecting  upon  what  the  lady  had  said,  seem- 
ing to  be  thinking  very  hard  with  a  view  of  giving 

176 


PHILIBERT   IN    DANGER 

a  suitable  reply,  and  then  he  would  double  himself 
up  and  roll  about  like  a  kitten. 

In  the  meantime  the  emperor's  party  were  climb- 
ing higher,  an  ascent  which  grew  more  and  more 
difficult  as  they  continued.  Le  Glorieux,  who  had 
hunted  the  chamois  in  the  company  of  his  late  mas- 
ter, was  acquainted  with  the  ways  of  this  elusive 
animal,  which  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  in  the 
world  to  hunt.  But  to  Philibert  and  Antoine  the 
experience  was  new  and  strange.  These  three 
were  a  little  behind  the  others  when  Le  Glorieux 
said,  pointing  to  the  right,  "There  is  one!" 

"Oh,  that,"  said  Philibert,  "is  nothing  but  a 
rock.  You  are  prepared  to  see  a  chamois  in  every 
distant  object." 

"  I  am  very  much  mistaken,"  said  the  other,  "  if 
that  is  not  a  sentinel  sent  out  to  watch  for  danger, 
while  the  others  may  take  their  breakfast  in  peace. 
You  have  no  idea  what  a  very  clever  animal  the 
chamois  is.  If  a  good  many  kings  and  emperors 
were  half  as  keen  to  scent  danger  it  would  be  a 
great  deal  better  for  the  countries  they  rule." 

"What  is  the  good  of  a  chamois  being  a  sen- 
tinel?" asked  Antoine.  "If  that  is  one  he  is  too 
far  away  from  the  others  to  call  their  attention  to 
danger." 

"Not  a  bit  of  it,"  was  the  reply.  "He  is  too 
clever  to  get  too  far  away  to  give  the  signal ;  trust 
him  to  look  out  for  that.  If  he  should  see  us  he 
would  say  in  his  way,  which  would  be  to  stamp  his 

177 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

forefeet  and  give  a  shrill  kind  of  a  whistle,  '  Here 
are  some  of  those  disgusting  human  beings  with 
their  bows  and  arrows.  Get  out  of  their  way  as 
fast  as  you  can,  every  one  of  you! '  " 

One  of  the  huntsmen  now  said  that  they  would 
be  obliged  to  go  back  and  come  up  the  other  side 
of  the  gorge,  as  they  must  get  above  the  game  in 
order  to  shoot  it,  so  they  went  down  a  steep  ravine, 
climbing  over  ledges  of  rock  and  up  the  other  side. 
But  in  the  meantime  the  sentinel  had  done  his  duty 
and  had  informed  his  friends  of  the  presence  of 
the  men  with  their  bows  and  arrows,  and  the  party, 
which  now  could  see  the  flock,  numbering  some 
twenty  animals,  saw  a  scampering  that  was  won- 
derful to  behold.  With  a  series  of  remarkable 
leaps  they  sprang  over  a  gulch  and  climbed  up 
rocks  so  steep  it  seemed  as  if  no  living  creature 
could  have  found  a  footing. 

Round  the  other  way  went  the  hunters  after 
them,  rushing  pell-mell  over  rocks  and  shrubs,  but 
all  the  animals  escaped  save  one,  which  seemed 
doomed  eventually  to  become  the  prey  of  Maxi- 
milian. Higher  and  higher  climbed  the  fright- 
ened chamois,  higher  and  higher  followed  the 
straight  athletic  figure  of  the  emperor.  Once 
when  he  was  hunting  chamois  Maximilian  had 
found  himself  in  a  position  so  perilous  that  it 
seemed  to  him  that  nothing  but  the  suddenly-de- 
veloped wings  of  a  bird  could  possibly  extricate 
him,  but  he  did  not  remember  former  dangers  now, 

178 


PHILIBERT   IN    DANGER 

for  he  thought  of  nothing  but  the  capture  of  the 
frightened  creature  flying  before  him. 

Finally  the  hunted  animal  could  go  no  farther, 
finding  it  impossible  to  climb  higher,  or  to  pass 
its  pursuer  in  a  downward  flight.  So  there  was 
nothing  to  do  but  to  wait  in  trembling  expectancy 
the  death  that  was  sure  to  come.  The  emperor 
seized  his  knife,  and  the  chamois,  as  if  willing  at 
last  to  yield  to  the  inevitable,  seemed  to  lean  its 
soft  body  toward  the  cruel  blade,  then  fell  head- 
long down  the  rocks,  from  where  it  was  afterward 
taken  by  the  attendants. 

And  thus  the  hunt  continued,  and  Philibert, 
though  he  watched  it  with  interest,  had  turned  his 
mind  upon  the  attainment  of  one  object,  and  that 
was  finding  a  cluster  of  edelweiss.  Sometimes 
our  thoughts  appear  to  be  reflected  in  the  mind  of 
some  one  besides  us,  and  it  now  seemed  to  be  the 
case,  for  Le  Glorieux  said,  "  I  am  not  foolishly 
squeamish,  I  should  hope,  and  I  have  stood  up  in 
battle  and  shot  at  men  who  were  able  to  defend 
themselves,  but  I  can  not  say  that  it  amuses  me  in 
the  least  to  see  a  chamois  killed.  They  are  such 
gentle  things,  and  they  make  such  a  plucky  eflfort 
to  save  themselves,  and  they  look  at  their  captor 
with  such  piteous  eyes  when  they  are  stabbed,  that 
I  do  not  see  anything  enjoyable  in  it,  though,  of 
course,  I  am  nothing  but  a  fool.  And,  as  our 
little  princess  wants  a  sprig  of  edelweiss,  I  shall 
go  in  pursuit  of  a  flower  instead  of  a  chamois." 

179 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

"  Le  Glorieux,  dear  Le  Glorieux,  let  me  get  the 
flower  for  her,"  pleaded  Philibert. 

"  What  matters  which  of  us  gets  it,  so  long  as  she 
has  it?"  asked  the  fool.  "  Let  us  both  look  for  it, 
and  then  it  will  be  more  likely  to  be  found." 

"  Very  well,  if  you  think  best,  but  I  like  to  do 
things  for  her,  Le  Glorieux.  I  went  to  the  wars 
with  my  father  when  I  was  so  young  thatT  scarcely 
remember  the  love  of  a  sister,  and  when  the  Lady 
Marguerite  smiled  at  me  the  first  night  that  I  saw 
her,  with  a  look  of  kindness  that  no  one  else  ever 
had  given  me,  I  felt  as  if  I  could  give  up  my  life 
for  her." 

"  She  always  is  kind,"  said  the  jester;  "  she  never 
is  haughty,  even  to  her  servants.  I  loved  her  in 
the  first  place  because  she  was  her  mother's  daugh- 
ter, but  now  I  love  her  for  herself.  She  never 
has  a  harsh  word  or  a  sharp  tongue  for  the  poor 
fool,  and  seems  to  remember  that  he  has  feelings 
as  well  as  the  rest  of  the  world." 

The  edelweiss  is  a  flower  which  grows  upon 
dizzy  heights,  blooming  under  the  snow.  The 
great  difficulty  sometimes  experienced  in  finding 
it  renders  it  the  more  desirable.  Philibert  had 
seen  the  flower  and  knew  that  it  usually  grew 
in  dangerous  places ;  but  this  fact  did  not  make  him 
hesitate  for  a  moment  in  his  resolve  to  pluck  it. 
After  searching  for  some  time  he  was  at  last  re- 
warded by  seeing  a  cluster  of  the  snowy  blossoms 
hanging  over  the  edge  of  a  dark  rock  some  dis- 

i8o 


He  lay  for  some  time  stunned  Page  i8l 


pmLrllBERT  IN   DANGER 

tance  below  him.  There  was  no  way  to  reach  it 
but  to  attempt  a  dangerous  descent  by  climbing 
down  the  cliff  to  where  the  flowers  grew.  But  the 
boy,  in  his  eagerness  to  obtain  the  flower,  did  not 
think  of  the  danger,  and  forthwith  began  to  climb 
downward,  finding  a  foothold  on  rough  projec- 
tions, and  clinging  to  others,  sliding  cautiously 
downward,  for  there  was  a  little  level  space  just 
above  the  plant  where  he  knew  he  could  stand 
while  securing  it.  It  was  a  foolhardy  feat,  and 
would  not  have  been  undertaken  by  any  but  a 
rash  youth,  who  gave  no  thought  to  possible  con- 
sequences, and  who  was  resolved  to  accomplish 
what  he  had  undertaken  in  spite  of  everything.  A 
stunted  shrub  grew  out  of  the  rocks  some  distance 
above  the  flower,  and  Philibert  grasped  it,  think- 
ing to  swing  himself  downward.  This  act  was 
his  undoing,  for  the  treacherous  limb  broke  with 
a  sharp  snap,  and  the  youth  was  precipitated  down- 
ward, not  to  the  level  space  beside  the  flower,  but 
over  it  and  some  twenty  feet  down  to  another  level 
space,  where  he  lay  for  some  time  stunned  and  un- 
conscious. 

When  he  returned  to  his  senses  he  was  lying 
flat  on  his  back  on  a  narrow  ledge  of  rock,  and 
dangerously  near  the  edge,  with  a  little  stream  of 
blood  trickling  from  his  temple.  Rising  to  his  feet 
he  moved  his  legs  and  arms  as  vigorously  as  possi- 
ble, to  see  if  any  bones  were  broken,  but  was  de- 
lighted to  find  thatj  with  the  exception  of  the  cut, 

i8i 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

which  did  not  seem  to  be  a  deep  one,  he  had  sus- 
tained no  serious  injury. 

But  Philibert  would  have  been  far  more  com- 
fortable and  easy  in  his  mind  on  safe  ground  with 
a  broken  arm  than  he  was  in  this  lonely  spot, 
though  comparatively  uninjured.  For  the  depth 
below  him  was  so  great  that  it  made  him  dizzy  to 
look  over  the  edge  of  his  resting-place,  while  above 
him  the  rock  was  so  steep  that  not  even  a  chamois 
could  have  climbed  it.  And  there  above  him,  as 
it  had  been  but  a  short  time  ago  below  him, 
was  the  edelweiss,  its  flowers  nodding  at  him  im- 
pudently as  if  defying  him  to  come  up  and  take 
them.  "  I  will  have  you  yet,"  said  he,  though  he 
felt  that  in  the  circumstances  this  sounded  a  good 
deal  like  an  empty  boast. 

Each  member  of  the  hunting  party  had  a  horn 
at  his  side  to  blow  in  case  of  need,  but  that  of  Phili- 
bert was  flattened  by  his  fall,  and  would  not  give 
forth  the  faintest  sound.  His  friends  would  miss 
him  and  search  for  him,  but  he  had  heard  of  people 
who  had  been  lost  for  ever  among  these  cold,  silent 
mountains,  and  he  could  not  help  thinking  that 
possibly  this  was  to  be  his  own  fate,  for  he  knew 
that,  intent  upon  his  search,  he  had  wandered  quite 
a  distance  from  his  companions,  who  might  not 
know  in  what  direction  to  look  for  him.  And  all 
this  for  a  cluster  of  starlike  blossoms  that  looked 
over  the  edge  of  the  rock  above  him  and  nodded 
in  derision!     He  put  his  hands  to  his  mouth  and 

182 


PHILIBERT   IN    DANGER 

called  as  loudly  as  he  could,  but  the  rocks  echoed 
his  call  and  seemed  to  throw  it  back  at  him  dis- 
dainfully and  mockingly. 

He  repeated  the  call  until  he  was  tired,  then  he 
sat  down  quietly  to  think.  How  long  could  he 
remain  here  before  he  froze  or  starved  to  death? 
He  had  heard  of  life  being  sustained  on  roots  and 
herbs,  but  there  was  nothing  here  but  rock,  and 
nothing  above  him  but  rock,  while  below  him 
there  seemed  to  be  naught  save  the  empty  air. 
After  a  while,  when  the  excitement  caused  by  his 
new  position  had  given  way  to  despair,  he  found 
that  the  wound  on  his  temple  really  did  pain  him, 
and  turning  quite  faint  he  remained  for  a  long 
while  with  his  eyes  closed. 

After  what  seemed  to  be  a  very  long  time  the 
sound  of  a  horn  was  borne  to  him  on  the  air,  a 
sound  which  seemed  to  the  lost  one  as  sweet  as  the 
song  of  an  angel.  He  rose  to  his  feet,  and,  putting 
his  hands  to  his  mouth  once  more,  he  called  three 
times  with  all  his  strength.  An  answering  call 
•reassured  him,  and  soon  hearing  voices,  he  called 
again,  and  was  overjoyed  to  see  the  faces  of  his 
friends  looking  over  the  precipice  above. 

"  In  the  name  of  all  the  saints,  boy,"  called 
Maximilian,  "are  you  hurt?" 

"  No,  your  Majesty,  only  a  little  bruised." 

There  was  the  hurried  buzz  of  conversation, 
which  he  could  not  distinguish,  and  the  looped  end 
of  a  rope  was  lowered  to  him,  which  he  secured 

183 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

about  his  body.  Then  he  was  slowly  drawn  up, 
and  as  he  swung  opposite  the  nodding  blossoms, 
Philibert  reached  out  his  hands  and  grasped  them, 
pulling  them  out  by  the  roots. 

"What  is  the  matter  with  the  boy?  Is  he 
out  of  his  senses?"  asked  the  emperor,  who  was 
anxiously  watching  the  ascent  to  terra  firma. 

"  No,  I  do  not  know  that  you  could  call  him  out 
of  his  senses  exactly,"  replied  Le  Glorieux.  "  The 
Lady  Marguerite  wanted  some  edelweiss  blossoms, 
and  he  was  trying  to  find  them  for  her.  I  have 
no  doubt  that  he  was  after  that  very  bunch  when 
he  fell.  There  is  one  thing  that  I  have  noticed 
about  Philibert,"  went  on  the  jester,  "  and  that 
is  that  when  he  starts  out  to  do  a  thing  he  will  do 
it  if  it  threatens  every  drop  of  blood  in  his  body." 

"  He  is  a  foolhardy  youth,"  said  the  emperor. 
"  I  can  understand  how  one  could  take  almost  any 
risk  to  kill  a  chamois,  but  not  to  pluck  a  handful 
of  weeds."  But  he  looked  pleased,  nevertheless, 
for  he  was  a  man  who  could  appreciate  persever- 
ance. And  he  examined  Philibert's  wound  with 
careful  attention,  saying  that  the  two  boys  and  the 
jester  should  return  to  the  inn  in  the  company  of 
one  of  the  guides.  And  Philibert  de  Bresse  still 
clutched  the  flowers  which  he  had  risked  so  much 
to  obtain. 

Behind  the  mountaineer's  hut,  where  the  re- 
mainder of  the  party  expected  to  spend  the  night, 
Le  Glorieux  took  from  the  spot  where  he  care- 

184 


PHILIBERT  IN   DANGER 

fully  had  placed  them,  a  cluster  of  snowy  blossoms, 
which,  with  great  difficulty,  a  scratched  face,  and 
some  bruises,  he  had  gathered  before  he  heard  of 
Philibert's  mishap.  These  children  of  the  snow 
he  threw  over  the  cliff  unseen  by  his  companions. 
"  Let  him  have  all  the  praise  and  the  honor 
of  it,"  said  he  to  himself.  "You  are  nothing 
but  a  fool,  Le  Glorieux,  and  you  must  not  be 
selfish." 

The  princess  received  the  flowers  with  a  little  cry 
of  joy,  and  she  thanked  the  donor  with  a  smile  so 
beaming,  inquiring  so  tenderly  about  his  wound, 
that  Philibert  felt  repaid  a  thousandfold  for  the 
trouble  he  had  taken  to  gratify  her  wish. 

"  But,  my  poor  Le  Glorieux,"  said  the  princess 
sweetly,  "you  have  an  ugly  scratch  across  your 
face,  and  your  hands  are  bruised.  Have  you  also 
had  a  fall?" 

"  No,  little  Cousin,"  he  returned  gravely,  and 
with  a  shake  of  the  head.  "The  scrapings  you 
notice  on  my  handsome  countenance  and  on  my 
slender  hands  are  but  the  result  of  a  weakness  with 
which  I  was  born." 

"  You  were  not  born  with  those  scratches,  or  I 
should  have  observed  them  long  ago,"  she  replied, 
smiling. 

"  I  said  the  result  of  a  weakness,  your  Highness. 
It  is  my  nature  to  want  to  climb.  Whenever  I  see 
the  side  of  a  rock  I  am  seized  with  an  uncontrolla- 
ble desire  to  scale  it,  and  climb  I  must  if  the  sky 

i8s 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

falls.  I  always  have  found  it  the  most  agreeable 
sensation  in  the  world  to  be  clinging  to  the  side 
of  a  rock  with  nothing  over  me  but  the  blue  of  the 
heavens,  and  nothing  beneath  me  but  the  blue  of 
some  mountain  lake  and  with  a  delightful  feeling 
of  uncertainty  as  to  just  where  I  am  to  find  my  next 
foothold." 

"  That  is  an  odd  taste  indeed,"  she  returned, 
laughing,  "  and  I  do  not  think  there  are  many  who 
share  it  with  you." 

Antoine,  I  regret  to  say,  was  a  mischievous  youth, 
as  we  have  seen  from  the  trick  he  played  on  his 
friend  the  jester  when  they  first  started  out  on  their 
journey  together,  and  it  may  have  been — though 
of  course  he  would  have  scorned  the  suggestion — 
that  some  of  the  raps  given  him  by  the  old  Duchess 
of  Burgundy  were  not  altogether  undeserved. 

However  that  may  be,  he  surely  did  meddle  with 
something  at  the  inn  which  did  not  concern  him,  as 
you  shall  presently  see.  That  "something"  was 
a  cunning  little  bear.  The  innkeeper  conducted 
the  jester  and  the  two  boys  to  a  rude  cage  con- 
structed out  of  the  limbs  of  trees,  which  he 
had  placed  a  little  distance  from  the  house  and 
near  the  edge  of  the  forest.  Within  the  cage  was 
a  brown  bear  cub  which  had  been  brought  to  him 
by  a  friend.  This  wild  and  woolly  pet,  he  said,  he 
was  going  to  train  and  sell  for  a  good  round  sum  to 
a  traveling  mountebank,  who  would  want  to  exhibit 
it  in  the  courtyards  of  inns  and  before  the  nobility. 

i86 


PHILIBERT   IN   DANGER 

Young  Master  Bruin  was  already  learning,  and 
one  felt  that  his  education  would  be  completed  by 
the  time  he  was  full  grown.  When  his  master 
would  say  "  Come,"  he  would  obey,  and  he  could 
stand  on  his  hind  feet  in  a  manner  that  was  quite 
genteel,  and  he  was  greatly  admired  by  the  three 
guests  of  his  master,  who  watched  his  perform- 
ances. When  replaced  in  the  cage,  he  walked 
round  and  round  it,  and  every  time  he  came  to  a 
corner  he  would  bow,  as  all  bears  do  when  caged, 
but  Le  Glorieux  remarked,  "  I  see  that  you  have 
begun  by  teaching  him  to  be  polite,  and  politeness 
is  a  great  thing  in  man  or  beast.  There  are  a  good 
many  things  we  could  learn  from  animals  if  we 
would  only  think  about  it,  though  we  are  so  well 
satisfied  with  ourselves  that  we  think  we  are  the 
only  living  beings  in  the  world  who  are  worth  con- 
sidering. There  are  not  many  of  us  who  are  as 
faithful  in  our  friendship  as  an  ordinary  dog,  and 
did  you  ever  watch  a  cat  when  she  had  her  mind 
bent  on  getting  a  certain  mouse?  Talk  about  pa- 
tience and  perseverance!  Why,  if  a  man  had  as 
much,  he  could  accomplish  almost  anything  he  set 
out  to  do!" 

"  I  should  like  to  take  that  little  bear  out  and 
play  with  him,"  remarked  Antoine,  as  the  inn- 
keeper walked  on  ahead  with  Philibert. 

"Just  you  take  my  advice,  my  young  friend,  and 
let  that  bear  alone,"  said  the  jester,  with  emphasis. 
"  The  owner  of  the  bear  will  teach  him  a  number 

187 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

of  tricks,  no  doubt,  but  there  is  one  that  he  will  not 
be  obliged  to  learn,  having  been  born  with  it,  and 
that  is  the  art  of  hugging." 

"Pooh!"  said  Antoine,  "  a  little  thing  like  that 
could  not  hurt  me.  I  have  played  with  dogs  a 
good  deal  larger  than  that  bear." 

"You  take  my  advice  and  let  him  alone,  or  the 
emperor  may  be  asking  for  one  of  his  favorite 
songs  and  find  nobody  at  hand  to  sing  it." 

But  even  in  this  twentieth  century  a  boy  may  be 
found  once  in  a  while  who  will  not  take  good  ad- 
vice, though  experience  always  teaches  the  wisdom 
of  listening  to  older  people,  and  Antoine  allowed 
the  good  counsel  of  Le  Glorieux  to  glide  from  his 
mind  as  drops  of  water  roll  off  a  duck's  back,  so,  at 
the  very  first  opportunity  he  could  find  to  do  so  un- 
seen, he  returned  to  the  bear's  cage. 

Taking  the  rope  which  the  bear's  master  had 
used  to  lead  him  about,  Antoine  opened  the  door 
and  tried  to  get  the  loop  about  the  animal's  neck. 
Master  Bruin,  as  if  realizing  that  here  was  some 
one  who  had  no  business  to  tamper  with  him, 
growled  and  gazed  at  the  intruder  with  a  sardonic 
grin,  which  revealed  all  his  sharp  white  teeth. 

"You  need  not  look  so  fierce,  you  woolly  little 
thing,"  said  the  boy;  "you  are  no  bigger  than  a 
ball  of  knitting  yarn.  I  should  be  ashamed  to  be 
afraid  of  you."  Then  he  dragged  the  rope  back 
and  held  the  loop  open  in  his  hand,  calling, 
"  Come,  come,"  as  the  innkeeper  had  done.     But 

i88 


In  the  way  of  squeezing  he  was  an  adept       Page  i8^ 


PHILIBERT   IN   DANGER 

young  Bruin  crouched  sulkily  in  the  extreme  end 
of  his  domicile,  without  deigning  to  move. 

Then  the  boy  took  a  long  stick  and  poked  him 
with  it,  saying,  "  You  obstinate  pig  of  a  bear,  we 
shall  see  whether  you  will  come  out  or  not.  You 
have  made  me  lose  all  patience  with  you." 

The  little  bear  now  made  up  his  mind  to  accept 
the  invitation,  and  that,  too,  very  swiftly  and  sud- 
denly, and  before  Antoine  had  time  to  throw  the 
loop  over  his  head  or  even  to  think  what  to  do  next, 
the  bear  was  upon  him.  Bruin  scorned  to  bite. 
His  talent  and  taste  did  not  lie  in  that  direction, 
but  in  the  way  of  squeezing  he  was  an  adept.  He 
hugged  Antoine  as  if  the  boy  had  been  a  lost 
brother  now  restored  to  his  arms  after  a  lapse  of 
many  years.  The  boy  thought  of  the  dagger  he 
wore  in  his  belt,  but  in  order  to  reach  the  weapon 
it  was  necessary  to  have  the  use  of  his  arms,  and 
both  of  those  members  were  securely  pinned  to  his 
side  by  that  inconsiderate  little  bear,  who  went  on 
squeezing  as  if  he  never  meant  to  leave  off.  An- 
toine now  Vv^as  very  much  frightened.  He  was  at 
the  mercy  of  his  foe  and  he  was  afraid  that  the 
breath  would  be  pressed  out  of  his  body  in  a  very 
short  time. 

He  gave  a  shrill  and  ear-piercing  yell  which 
brought  the  innkeeper  and  Le  Glorieux  in  haste 
from  the  house  and  opened  all  the  windows  on  that 
side,  where  heads  were  thrust  out  to  see  what  was 
the  matter. 

189 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

What  the  bear  thought  when  he  saw  his  master 
never  will  be  known.  What  he  did  was  to  release 
his  hold  on  the  boy  as  suddenly  as  if  the  latter  had 
been  a  hot  potato,  and  scamper  away  as  rapidly 
as  his  clumsy  legs  could  carry  him.  The  two  men 
ran  in  pursuit,  but  their  efforts  were  unavailing, 
for  Master  Bruin  had  deserted  civilization  for- 
evermore. 

"  I  warned  you,  did  I  not,  to  let  that  bear  alone?  " 
asked  Le  Glorieux  indignantly.  "  Did  I  not  tell 
you  that  he  was  terrible  when  it  came  to  hugging? 
Why  did  you  do  just  what  I  warned  you  not  to  do? 
People  who  refuse  to  take  good  advice  are  always 
sorry  for  it." 

"  I  only  wanted  to  have  a  little  sport  with  him," 
whimpered  Antoine.  "  I  did  not  know  that  bears 
could  hug  so  hard." 

"You  have  found  it  out  now,"  said  the  jester. 
"You  have  played  our  friend  here  a  fine  trick. 
He  was  keeping  the  bear  in  order  to  sell  him  at  a 
good  price,  and  you,  in  spite  of  everything  I  could 
say  to  you,  must  let  the  animal  escape.  It  would 
be  no  more  than  fair  for  you  to  pay  whatever  he  is 
worth  to  our  good  host  and  consider  yourself  lucky 
with  getting  off  without  a  cuffing  in  addition — a 
punishment  you  deserve! " 

Antoine  felt  the  justice  of  this  remark  and 
emptied  out  the  contents  of  his  purse.  But  when 
he  saw  what  a  small  sum  it  was,  Le  Glorieux  re- 
lented and  said  gently,  "  Put  aside  your  money,  my 

190 


The  remains  of  what  once  had  been  a  velvet  glr,ve 


PHILIBERT   IN    DANGER 

boy;  there  is  not  enough  to  bother  about.  You  are 
one  of  our  party,  the  emperor's  and  mine,  and  I 
will  pay  for  the  damage  you  have  done."  And  he 
offered  the  innkeeper  a  handful  of  silver.  The  lat- 
ter, being  upright  as  well  as  good-natured,  refused 
to  take  all  the  money  offered  him  by  the  jester, 
merely  taking  what  he  had  expected  to  receive  for 
the  bear,  showing  that  honesty  is  a  plant  that  will 
flourish  anywhere,  provided  the  ground  be  favor- 
able. 

The  Lady  Marguerite  had  an  experience  of  her 
own  with  one  of  the  pets  belonging  to  the  inn. 
When  she  and  her  ladies  returned  from  their  walk 
they  were  met  at  the  door  by  the  landlady,  who  was 
as  pale  and  terrified  as  if  some  calamity  had  over- 
taken her.  In  her  left  hand  she  extended  toward 
the  princess  a  wet  and  torn  object  which  resembled 
a  piece  of  mop  rag  that  had  seen  long  service,  but 
which  in  reality  was  the  remains  of  what  once  had 
been  a  velvet  glove  embroidered  with  seed  pearls. 
Under  her  right  arm  she  held  with  some  difficulty, 
for  he  was  wriggling  with  all  his  might,  a  small 
puppy  of  the  age  when  dogs  believe  that  the  chief 
object  of  life  is  to  chew  things,  and  who  looked  at 
the  princess  with  an  impudent  little  bark,  just  as  if 
he  had  not  been  striving  with  all  the  patience  and 
perseverance  of  which  he  was  capable  to  reduce 
a  piece  of  her  property  to  a  pulp. 

"Oh,  this  hound,  this  hound,  your  Highness  I" 
moaned  the  poor  woman.     "  I  have  tried  my  ut- 

191 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

most  to  keep  him  out  of  the  way  of  your  Highness 
and  out  of  the  bedchamber  of  your  Highness!  My 
boys  and  my  husband,  they  will  have  every  kind  of 
an  animal  about,  but  forme  I  hate  them  all — I  mean 
the  animals,  your  Highness,  and  not  my  husband 
and  my  sons.  And  this  hound,  your  Highness,  he 
has  been  determined  to  go  into  your  bedchamber 
at  any  cost,  though  I  have  driven  him  away  from  it 
again  and  again.  He  seems  to  have  had  nothing 
else  on  his  mind  since  your  Highness  has  honored 
this  poor  place  with  your  presence.  And  when  I 
went  in  your  room  this  morning  to  put  it  in  order, 
he  slipped  in  unseen  by  me  and  remained  under  a 
chair,  occupied  in  chewing  this  valuable  glove  just 
as  if  it  had  been  the  object  of  his  life  to  feed  upon 
pearls." 

"Never  mind,"  said  the  Lady  Marguerite  sooth- 
ingly. "  They  are  too  small  to  injure  him,  even  if 
he  has  swallowed  any  of  them." 

"  Injure  him!  What  should  I  care  for  him?" 
cried  the  woman.  "  It  is  the  loss  of  the  glove  be- 
longing to  your  Highness  that  distresses  me." 

"Oh,  do  not  trouble  yourself  about  the  glove;  I 
have  plenty  more.  But  what  a  pretty  puppy,  and 
a  fine  breed,  too." 

"Yes,  your  Highness,  the  breed  is  well  enough," 
replied  the  woman  sadly,  as  if  she  wished  that  the 
puppy  had  striven  more  faithfully  to  live  up  to  the 
traditions  of  his  race. 

"  I  should  like  to  have  him,"  said  the  princess, 

193 


PHILIBERT  IN   DANGER 

'^  and  you  shall  be  paid  whatever  you  think  that  he 
is  worth." 

"  Does  your  Highness  want  a  dog  that  has  just 
wrought  such  destruction?"  asked  the  good  wo- 
man, in  amazement. 

"  Of  course,  why  not?"  said  Marguerite,  taking 
the  dog  in  her  own  arms.  "  You  did  not  know  that 
it  was  my  glove,  did  you,  doggie?  " 

"  Your  Highness  is  perfectly  welcome  to  him  for 
nothing  at  all,"  was  the  reply,  but  the  princess  in- 
sisted upon  paying  her  a  price  for  the  small  ani- 
mal, which  the  landlady  considered  sufficient  to 
purchase  all  the  dogs  in  the  Tyrol.  And  his  new 
mistress  named  him  Brutus,  which  was  a  very 
grown-up  and  dignified  name  for  so  small  and  mis- 
chievous a  member  of  the  dog  family,  and  as  he 
was  very  intelligent  he  became  the  most  favored  of 
Marguerite's  pets. 

When  they  returned  to  the  palace  at  Innsbruck 
Le  Glorieux  said,  "  Little  Cousin,  we  each  have  a 
souvenir  of  the  trip;  you  have  the  puppy,  your 
father  has  some  fine  chamois  horns,  Philibert  has 
a  cut  temple,  Antoine  sore  ribs,  while  I  have  a 
scratched  face,  owing  to  my  passion  for  climbing." 


193 


CHAPTER  X 

A  MIDNIGHT  ADVENTURE 

The  following  year  Maximilian  found  it  neces- 
sary to  take  his  troops  to  Italy.  The  cities  of  that 
fair  land,  instead  of  being  friendly,  as  they  are  to- 
day, were  constantly  quarreling  with  each  other, 
and  Pisa,  the  city  of  the  leaning  tower,  implored 
the  aid  of  the  Emperor  of  Austria  against  the  pre- 
tentions of  Florence,  the  city  of  flowers. 

Le  Glorieux,  who  declared  that  he  had  not  seen 
a  good  rousing  fight  since  the  siege  of  Beauvais, 
begged  to  accompany  the  emperor,  and  to  be 
allowed  to  do  his  full  share  of  fighting,  a  permis- 
sion which  was  granted  most  w  illingly. 

Philibert  de  Bresse,  who  had  industriously  con- 
tinued his  studies,  and  who  had  gained  the  serious 
attention  of  the  emperor  for  the  first  time  when  he 
plucked  the  edelweiss,  was  now  his  Majesty's  secre- 
tary, and  also  was  to  accompany  him  to  Italy.  But 
Antoine,  at  the  bidding  of  the  princess,  remained 
in  Vienna,  where  the  court  was  staying  at  the  time 
and  where,  under  the  tuition  of  a  musical  monk,  he 
was  accomplishing  wonders  in  the  realm  of 
melody. 

Philibert  was  now  eighteen  and  had  attained  his 
full  growth.     He  wished  that  he  was  to  fight  in- 

194 


A   MIDNIGHT  ADVENTURE 

stead  of  to  write,  that  he  could  be  the  soldier  in 
armor  and  clanking  spurs  instead  of  the  smooth- 
haired  secretary,  for  he  was  young  and  longed  for 
exciting  adventure.  But  it  was  worth  something  to 
be  in  the  confidence  of  the  emperor,  and  to  travel 
in  his  present  capacity  w^as  better  than  to  remain 
quietly  at  court. 

They  were  camped  near  Pistoja,  an  ancient  city 
at  the  foot  of  the  Apennines,  the  headquarters  of 
the  emperor  being  a  half-ruined  marble  palace. 
Pistoja  is  to  this  day  rich  in  ancient  sculptures  of 
the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  centuries,  and  at  that 
time  there  was  an  equestrian  statue  which  stood 
outside  the  gates  of  the  old  palace,  about  which 
clung  a  strange  superstition,  which  was  that  occa- 
sionally, and  when  it  suited  his  fancy,  the  statue 
had  a  way  of  dismounting  and  wandering  about, 
possibly  to  rest  himself,  for  several  centuries  of  the 
same  position  must  prove  fatiguing.  It  was  not  an 
especially  fine  piece  of  statuary  and  had  not  been 
done  by  a  famous  sculptor.  In  fact,  the  original  of 
the  statue  had  had  it  made  in  order  to  perpetuate 
his  own  memory,  but  he  had  lived  so  long  ago  that 
nobody  remembered  just  what  he  had  done,  which 
perhaps  were  not  such  wonderful  feats  after  all,  for 
the  greatest  people  are  the  most  modest.  It  repre- 
sented a  man  on  a  big  horse  with  a  long  mantle 
spread  well  out  over  the  tail  of  his  steed,  and  it 
went  by  the  name  of  II  Capitano,  the  captain,  no 
one  knowing  or  caring  just  what  captain  it  was. 

195 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

And  this  captain  had  thrust  himself  upon  the  notice 
of  the  emperor's  soldiers  camped  in  his  neighbor- 
hood, as  you  shall  presently  see. 

Coming  into  the  grounds  after  having  taken  a 
message  from  the  emperor  to  one  of  the  officers, 
Philibert  paused  to  speak  with  one  of  his  Majesty's 
guards.  The  subject  of  their  conversation  was  the 
expected  battles  of  the  coming  campaign,  and  the 
guard  said,  "  I  am  not  afraid  of  any  living  man,  but 
I  am  afraid  of  the  one  they  call  //  Capitano" 

"  You  mean  the  statue  on  horseback  over  there?  " 
asked  Philibert. 

"  I  do,  sir." 

"Why  should  you  fear  a  marble  man?"  asked 
the  secretary,  smiling. 

The  guard  lowered  his  voice.  *'  Because,  sir,  he 
gets  off  his  horse  and  walks  about  at  night." 

Philibert  laughed.  "  A  soldier  should  not  listen 
to  such  old  wives'  tales,"  said  he. 

"  It  is  not  an  old  wives'  tale,  sir,"  said  the  man 
stoutly;  "  Hans  and  Ottocar  and  others  who  are  as 
brave  as  the  emperor  himself,  saw  II  Capitano, 
and  were  frightened." 

"  I  went  past  him  a  few  moments  ago  and  I  was 
not  frightened,"  laughed  Philibert. 

"  But  they  saw  him  walking  about  in  the  moon- 
light, sir." 

"  They  were  dreaming,  or  they  had  been  drink- 
ing too  much  Italian  wine,"  said  young  De  Bresse 
as  he  walked  away. 

196 


A  MIDNIGHT  ADVENTURE 

That  afternoon  the  emperor  said  to  his  secretary, 
"  De  Bresse,  I  am  going  to  send  you  to  Venice  with 
a  message  for  the  doge." 

Philibert's  heart  beat  high  with  exultation,  for 
he  knew  that  this  was  a  mission  of  trust,  and  that 
he  possessed  the  emperor's  confidence,  else  his 
Majesty  would  have  selected  another  messenger. 
The  Venetians  had  promised  their  aid  to  Maxi- 
milian and  the  Pisans,  but  so  far  they  had  failed  to 
keep  their  word.  The  message  was  not  to  be  writ- 
ten, lest  in  case  of  accident  to  the  bearer  it  should 
fall  into  the  wrong  hands.  The  emperor  repeated 
it  to  his  secretary  word  for  word,  and  gave  the 
latter  his  seal  ring  to  show  that  the  message  was 
authentic. 

Repeating  the  words  of  his  royal  master  over  and 
over  again  in  his  mind  and  trying  to  remember  his 
caution  regarding  the  trip  and  the  best  route  to 
take,  Philibert  hastily  prepared  for  the  journey, 
and  mounting  one  of  the  best  horses  available  he 
rode  away  shortly  before  nightfall. 

He  was  very  happy;  he  was  young,  he  had  the 
confidence  of  the  emperor,  and  he  was  starting  out 
on  a  trip  in  which  there  was  considerable  risk,  a 
fact  which  with  him  added  greatly  to  the  charm 
of  the  enterprise. 

It  seems  sometimes  as  if  our  memory  takes  a 
malicious  delight  in  playing  tricks  with  us.  It 
will  go  to  sleep  at  the  very  time  that  it  ought  to  be 
busiest  and  then  it  will  wake  and  mock  us.  What  do 

197 


THE  COURT  JESTER 

you  suppose  that  Philibert's  memory  said  to  him, 
when,  after  a  two  hours'  ride,  he  stopped  at  a  stream 
to  allow  his  horse  to  refresh  itself  with  a  drink  of 
water?  It  was  this,  "  You  have  forgotten  the  em- 
peror's ring!  You  left  it  on  the  foot  of  your  couch 
when  you  were  dressing!" 

This  was  the  ghastly  truth.  In  his  excitement, 
delight,  and  haste,  the  secretary  had  placed  the  ring 
on  his  couch,  intending  to  tie  it  to  a  cord  and  hang 
it  around  his  neck  inside  of  his  clothes  for  the  sake 
of  safety,  and  it  was  still  there!  To  accomplish 
the  purpose  for  which  he  was  sent,  the  ring  was 
absolutely  necessary,  or  his  royal  master  would  not 
have  given  it  to  him.  There  was  nothing  to  be 
done  but  to  return  and  find  it.  It  would  be  very 
difficult  to  go  to  his  room  without  the  fact  of  his 
presence  being  reported  to  his  Majesty,  who,  also, 
had  sharp  ears  and  knew  all  that  was  going 
on  around  him.  And  what  should  he  say  if  he 
were  discovered?  Simply  that  he  had  forgotten 
the  ring  and  had  come  back  for  it.  Yes,  that  was 
simple  enough,  but  to  the  proud  and  sensitive  youth 
the  consequences  would  be  terrible,  for  he  knew 
that  the  emperor  upon  learning  the  truth  would 
lose  all  confidence  in  his  sagacity  and  would  send 
another  messenger.  "And  small  wonder,  too,  since 
his  first  one  appears  to  be  such  a  blundering  idiot," 
he  thought,  with  burning  cheeks. 

Well,  he  would  go  back  for  the  ring  and  if  he 
should  be  discovered  by  the  emperor  there  would 

198 


A  tall  form  was  walking  before  him  Page  igg 


A   MIDNIGHT  ADVENTURE 

be  nothing  to  do  but  to  return  to  his  own  country 
in  disgrace.  So  Philibert  turned  his  horse's  head 
in  the  direction  of  Pistoja. 

It  was  the  hour  of  midnight  when  Philibert  ap- 
proached the  camp  from  which  he  had  set  forth  so 
joyously  that  afternoon,  a  week  ago  it  seemed  to 
him  now.  For  the  last  few  miles  he  had  been  tor- 
mented by  a  fear  that  he  could  not  overcome,  a  sur- 
mise that  seemed  to  be  more  and  more  probable  as 
he  drew  nearer  and  nearer  to  his  destination.  Le 
Glorieux  had  a  habit  of  entering  the  secretary's 
room,  as  was  the  custom  of  jesters,  at  whatever  hour 
it  pleased  him,  and  if  he  went  there  after  Philibert 
left,  he  would  certainly  discover  the  ring,  for  his 
sharp  eyes  saw  everything.  And  he  would  take 
the  jewel  straight  to  his  master;  the  youth  seemed 
to  hear  him  saying,  "  Cousin  Max,  here  is  your  ring 
that  the  careless  boy  left  on  his  bed."  Perhaps  even 
now  Maximilian  had  a  store  of  wrath  laid  up  for 
him! 

And  now  how  best  to  pass  the  sentinels  was  a 
serious  problem.  Of  course  knowing  his  identity, 
they  would  let  him  pass  without  a  question,  but 
how  to  bribe  them  to  keep  his  return  a  secret?  He 
had  secured  his  horse  in  a  clump  of  trees  and  was 
about  to  approach  the  first  sentinel  when  he  saw  an 
object  which  for  the  moment  almost  stopped  the 
beating  of  his  heart.  Plainly  distinguishable  in 
the  bright  moonlight  a  tall  form  was  walking  be- 
fore him  draped  in  a  long  mantle.     It  was  the 

199 


THE  COURT  JESTER 

statue,  //  Capitano,  which  so  frightened  him,  and 
Philibert  was  by  no  means  a  coward.  Even  to  the 
bravest,  the  sight  of  a  marble  statue  walking  about 
when  it  ought  to  be  sitting  quietly  astride  its  horse 
would  cause  more  or  less  trepidation,  for  the  sight 
is  an  unusual  one,  to  say  the  least. 

But  glancing  backward  with  the  expectation  of 
seeing  the  horse  standing  riderless,  Philibert  dis- 
covered that  the  same  old  Capitano  was  still  in 
his  saddle,  holding  his  sword  stiffly  before  him, 
with  his  long  mantle  still  floating  over  the  tail  of 
his  steed,  as  it  had  done  for  nobody  knew  exactly 
how  many  centuries. 

Then  this  Capitano  was  a  fraud,  a  base  imita- 
tion !  Drawing  his  sword  Philibert  strode  forward 
and  with  a  quick  turn  confronted  the  bold  mas- 
querader. 

"Another  step,"  said  the  secretary,  "  and  I  shall 
run  you  through.  If  you  think  to  deceive  me  by 
this  foolery,  you  are  very  much  mistaken.  You  are 
one  of  the  soldiers  dressed  up  for  the  purpose  of 
stealing  from  your  comrades." 

The  man  sank  to  his  knees  and  began  to  plead 
for  mercy.  "  Oh,  sir,  please  do  not  betray  me.  I 
never  have  done  such  a  thing  before,  indeed." 

"Do  not  tell  me  that;  you  have  been  walking 
about  in  this  guise  night  after  night." 

"  I  mean,  sir,  that  I  never  have  done  anything 
like  this  until  since  we  have  been  camped  in  this 
place." 

200 


A  MIDNIGHT  ADVENTURE 

"We  will  not  discuss  that  matter  now;  I  have  no 
time  to  hear  your  excuses.  I  need  your  disguise 
for  purposes  of  my  own.  Give  those  rags  to  me; 
promise  to  cease  your  evil  practices  and  to  keep  my 
secret,  and  I  will  keep  yours." 

The  rascal  made  the  necessary  promises,  very 
thankful  to  get  ofif  so  easily,  and  to  extricate  him- 
self from  what  at  first  promised  to  be  a  position  of 
great  danger.  Hastily  doffing  the  long  mantle  and 
the  white  linen  which  bound  his  head  in  imitation 
of  marble  hair,  he  helped  to  array  the  young  secre- 
tary in  the  disguise;  then  holding  his  sword  be- 
fore him  in  imitation  of  //  Capitano,  Philibert 
marched  boldly  toward  the  emperor's  quarters. 

The  sentinel  at  the  gate  made  no  opposition  to 
his  entrance,  but  remained  as  if  frozen  to  the  spot; 
another  crossed  himself  and  fled,  and  his  way  be- 
ing now  clear,  so  far  as  they  were  concerned,  Phili- 
bert cautiously  mounted  the  steps  leading  to  the 
upper  hall,  ever  in  momentary  fear  of  meeting  one 
of  the  emperor's  suite  or  perhaps  even  his  Majesty 
himself,  as  he  was  obliged  to  pass  his  bedchamber 
in  trying  to  reach  his  own.  Luck  favored  him, 
however,  and  he  reached  his  own  room,  where  he 
proceeded  to  search  for  the  object  which  had 
caused  him  so  much  anxiety. 

The  one  window  of  the  room  was  so  thickly 
shaded  with  vines  as  to  exclude  the  moonlight,  and 
even  if  there  had  been  any  artificial  light  available, 
its  use  would  have  been  a  risk,  so  Philibert  began 

201 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

to  run  his  hand  over  the  couch,  very  slowly  and 
carefully  lest  he  should  knock  the  ring  to  the  floor, 
w^here  it  would  be  almost  impossible  to  find  it. 

He  uttered  a  sigh  of  relief  when  his  fingers 
touched  a  hard  object,  which  turned  out  to  be  what 
he  sought,  and  slipping  it  on  his  finger,  where  it 
proved  to  be  a  snug  fit,  he  was  about  to  depart, 
when  he  heard  the  emperor's  voice  in  the  corridor. 
His  disguise  would  not  protect  him  from  Maxi- 
milian, who,  even  if  he  should  believe  this  strange 
figure  to  be  //  Capitano  himself,  would  lose  no  time 
in  running  it  through  with  his  sword,  and  the 
young  secretary  was  not  ready  to  die. 

He  waited;  would  the  emperor  never  go?  His 
voice  was  raised  in  anger  about  something.  Per- 
haps he  had  heard  of  the  appearance  of  the  sup- 
posed statue  and  was  seeking  it.  Concealing  him- 
self behind  the  half-open  door,  Philibert  listened. 
No,  whatever  it  was  it  was  not  a  question  of  // 
Capitano,  and  the  listener  realized  that  his  succes- 
sor was  getting  a  sound  scolding  from  Maximilian, 
who  had  a  temper  of  his  own  upon  occasion. 

A  paper  was  missing,  the  disappearance  of  which 
seemed  greatly  to  have  irritated  the  emperor.  His 
voice  grew  louder  and  louder  as  he  described  it. 
Then  he  said,  "  Here,  Le  Glorieux,  go  and  look 
for  it  in  the  bedchamber  of  De  Bresse.  You  will 
know  it  by  its  color;  it  is  a  long  blue  paper,  folded 
lengthwise,  with  writing  across  the  end  of  it." 

The  listener  knew  quite  well  of  what  paper  they 


A   MIDNIGHT   ADVENTURE 

were  speaking;  oh,  if  he  could  only  have  put  it  into 
the  emperor's  mind  to  look  for  it  in  a  certain 
drawer  in  his  own  room,  where,  neatly  labeled,  the 
secretary  had  placed  it  with  a  number  of  other 
documents !  But  here  was  the  fool  coming  straight 
toward  his  room  with  a  torch.  With  a  sudden 
plunge,  Philibert  sprang  toward  the  bed  and 
crawled  under  it,  dragging  with  him  the  hangings, 
which  were  old  and  frail,  as  he  did  so. 

"  What  a  mess  this  room  is  in,"  grumbled  the 
jester,  as  he  stumbled  over  the  fallen  hangings, 
coughing  violently  as  the  dust  from  them  tickled 
his  throat.  "Was  he  so  crazy  with  joy  over  his 
trip  that  he  must  pull  his  couch  to  pieces  before  he 
started?" 

Then,  as  if  suspecting  that  some  one  might  be  in 
the  room  who  had  no  right  there,  the  jester  searched 
carefully  about,  finally  kneeling  to  look  under  the 
bed.  The  emperor  and  his  humiliated  scribe  had 
now  closed  their  door,  and  the  amazed  exclamation 
of  the  jester  was  not  heard,  as  he  discovered  a 
booted  and  spurred  foot  beneath  Philibert's  bed. 

"And  so,  Mr.  Thief,  or  Mr.  Spy,  whichever  you 
are,  I  have  caught  you,  have  I?"  asked  Le  Glo- 
rieux  coolly. 

"Hush!"  whispered  Philibert. 

"  I  do  not  in  the  least  doubt  that  you  want  me  to 
hush,"  returned  the  fool,  taking  possession  of  the 
secretary's  sword,  which  the  latter  held  unsheathed 
in  his  hand.     "There  are  some  positions  in  life  in 

203 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

which  people  like  to  have  a  great  noise  made  over 
them,  and  there  are  others  in  which  they  like  to  be 
quiet  and  retired.  This  appears  to  be  one  of  the 
latter.  You  evidently  do  not  know  how  to  use  this 
toy  since  you  give  it  up  so  easily,"  went  on  Le 
Glorieux  scornfully. 

"Hush!"  whispered  his  prisoner  again.  "Do 
not  bawl  so  loud.     It  is  I,  Philibert  de  Bresse." 

"  In  the  name  of  all  the  saints  in  the  calendar!" 
exclaimed  the  fool  as  young  De  Bresse  crawled 
from  his  hiding-place.  "  Is  this  the  way  you  execute 
your  commission?  I  was  proud  of  you,  boy;  I  had 
faith  in  you,  and  now  see  what  has  come  of  it! 
Max  gave  you  an  opportunity  to  win  his  confidence 
for  life,  and  you  wrap  yourself  up  in  that  dirty  old 
mantle  and  sneak  under  the  bed!  I  never  so  thor- 
oughly realized  that  I  am  a  fool  as  I  do  at  this 
moment,  when  I  find  how  greatly  I  was  mistaken 
in  Philibert  de  Bresse!" 

"  Do  you  suppose  I  am  doing  this  of  my  own 
accord?"  snapped  the  young  secretary,  engaged  in 
securing  the  band  of  white  linen  which  was  ready 
to  fall  from  his  head. 

"  I  do  not  see  anybody  forcing  you  to  do  it  at  the 
point  of  the  sword,"  returned  the  jester  dryly. 
"  The  De  Bresses  are  a  wild  lot  and  have  done  many 
strange  things,  according  to  their  history,  but  I 
never  heard  of  one  that  was  a  coward." 

Le  Glorieux  had  no  sooner  finished  the  sentence 
than  Philibert  seized  him  by  the  shoulders  and 

204 


A   MIDNIGHT   ADVENTURE 

gave  him  a  shaking  which,  the  fool  afterward  de- 
clared, changed  the  relative  position  of  some  of  his 
teeth.  "  Listen,  you  idiot,"  hissed  the  young  man, 
"  I  intend  to  go  to  Venice  if  seven  thousand  demons 
stand  in  the  road!  I  was  well  on  my  way  when  I 
found  that  I  had  forgotten  the  emperor's  ring,  and 
I  have  returned  for  it  in  the  disguise  of  //  Capi- 
tano.  Do  you  not  see  that  I  was  obliged  to  come 
in  secret?  Now  let  me  go.  The  paper  you  will 
find  in  the  drawer  of  his  Majesty's  writing  case. 
Leave  me!" 

The  jester  returned  to  his  master,  saying  as  he 
opened  the  door,  "  Cousin  Max,  you  are  a  sensible 
man  about  some  things  even  if  you  are  an  emperor, 
and  I  want  to  ask  you  where  a  valuable  paper 
should  be  but  in  your  own  writing  case?  " 

Waiting  until  all  was  quiet  outside,  Philibert 
ventured  forth  once  more,  and  assuming  the  digni- 
fied stride  of  //  Capitano,  he  marched  past  the 
sentinels,  threw  ofif  his  disguise,  and  mounting  his 
horse,  was  once  more  riding  toward  Venice,  regret- 
ting the  lost  time,  and  censuring  his  own  thought- 
lessness which  had  rendered  his  return  necessary. 
It  was  long  after  sunrise  before  he  felt  justified  in 
taking  a  rest,  stopping  at  a  wayside  inn  more  for 
the  sake  of  his  horse  than  for  his  own  comfort. 
"  Poor  fellow,"  said  he,  stroking  the  tired  steed, 
"you  are  unfortunate  in  being  obliged  to  sufifer  for 
the  folly  of  your  rider." 

And  now  he  slipped  the  ring  from  his  finger  and 

205 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

secured  it  on  the  inside  of  the  lining  of  his  cap,  be- 
lieving that  after  all  it  would  be  less  likely  to  be 
found  in  that  place  of  concealment  than  tied  about 
his  neck. 

As  soon  as  possible  he  resumed  his  journey, 
which  he  pursued  without  incident  of  note  until 
late  that  afternoon,  when  he  met  a  party  of  Flor- 
entine soldiers,  who  stopped  him. 

"An  Austrian  spy,"  said  one  of  them. 

"  Do  I  look  like  an  Austrian?  "  asked  Philibert 
scornfully. 

"  Who  are  you,  then?  " 

"A  Savoyard  student." 

"What  is  a  Savoyard  student  doing  here?" 

"A  student  may  travel  where  he  pleases,  may  he 
not?  I  can  not  see  that  I  am  accountable  to  you 
for  my  acts." 

"Where  are  you  going?" 

"To  Padua." 

"  For  what  purpose?  " 

"My  good  sir,"  drawled  Philibert,  "for  what 
purpose  does  a  student  go  to  Padua  save  to  attend 
its  famous  university,  which  has  sheltered  the 
learned  heads  of  Dante  and  Petrarch?" 

"  He  looks  like  a  student  and  he  talks  like  one," 
said  another  man.    "  Let  him  go." 

Philibert  was  feeling  greatly  relieved  when  he 
caught  the  eye  of  a  man  in  the  rear  of  the  company. 
This  was  a  soldier,  w^ho,  in  a  slight  skirmish  a  short 
time  before,  had  been  taken  prisoner  by  the  Aus- 

206 


He  met  a  party  of  Florentine  soldiers        P^^ge  2o6 


A   MIDNIGHT  ADVENTURE 

trians,  and  who  had  succeeded  in  effecting  his 
escape.  The  young  secretary  had  seen  him  but 
once  and  that  only  for  a  few  moments,  but  he  never 
forgot  a  face  and  recognized  this  one  immediately. 
He  hoped  that  the  memory  of  the  soldier  was  less 
faithful  than  his  own,  but  this  did  not  appear  to  be 
the  case. 

"Stay,"  said  the  man;  "  I  think  I  can  tell  you 
something  about  this  youth.  The  Emperor  of 
Austria  has  a  secretary,  a  young  Savoyard,  of  whom 
I  caught  a  glimpse  when  I  was  their  prisoner,  and 
if  I  am  not  very  much  mistaken  this  is  he." 

The  youth  laughed  contemptuously.  "  For  a 
faithful  secretary,  I  seem  to  be  quite  a  distance 
from  my  master,"  said  he.  "  Look  at  me  well,  my 
good  man,"  he  continued ^^oldly,  "and  tell  me  on 
your  honor  if  we  ever  have  met  before." 

The  man  began  to  waver.  "  Of  course  I  had  only 
a  glimpse,"  he  stammered.  "  The  secretary  was 
walking  with  the  emperor  and  I  only  saw  them  a 
moment." 

"Would  you  "recognize  the 'emperor  If  you 
should  see  him  again?" 

"Aye,  that  would  I." 

"  Then  It  must  have  been  he  at  whom  you  were 
staring  instead  of  my  countryman,  the  secretary, 
and  of  whom  you  seem  to  have  received  a  very 
faint  impression." 

As  if  realizing  the  force  of  this  argument,  the 
man  made  no  reply,  and  another  said,  "  It  will  do 

207 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

no  harm  to  search  him  at  any  rate,  for  if  it  should 
be  the  emperor's  secretary,  he  may  be  bearing  im- 
portant despatches." 

Still  putting  a  bold  front  on  the  affair,  Philibert 
leaped  to  the  ground.  "  Search  me,  if  you  like," 
said  he,  "  and  get  it  over  as  soon  as  possible,  for  I 
must  be  on  my  way."  The  soldiers  searched  thor- 
oughly, but  of  course  found  no  papers,  and  the 
youth  appreciated  the  wisdom  of  the  emperor  in 
sending  a  verbal  message  to  the  doge.  His  cap 
they  merely  glanced  into  and  restored  to  him,  so 
the  precious  ring  was  safe.  He  remounted  his 
horse,  even  before  he  received  permission  to  do  so, 
and  the  soldier  who  had  first  spoken  to  him  said 
sneeringly,  "  Go,  gentle  youth,  you  are  too  girlish 
to  do  any  harm." 

Considering  the  danger  he  was  In,  the  secretary 
should  have  ridden  away  without  another  word, 
but  this  contemptuous  remark  kindled  his  indigna- 
tion to  such  a  heat  that  he  forgot  all  prudence,  and 
crying,  "How  do  you  like  this  from  a  'girlish' 
hand?"  he  struck  the  speaker  full  across  the  face 
with  the  flat  of  his  sword,  leaving  a  mark  that 
would  be  noticeable  for  some  time  to  come,  and 
putting  spurs  to  his  horse,  he  dashed  past  the  other 
men  and  galloped  away.  Some  of  the  men  roared 
with  laughter,  but  he  who  had  been  struck  rushed 
for  his  horse,  mounted  it  and  endeavored  to 
give  chase,  but  Philibert  had  the  advantage  of  an 
earlier  start  and  a  swifter  horse,  and  though  a  shot 

208 


A  MIDNIGHT  ADVENTURE 

came  flying  after  him,  it  cut  the  limb  of  a  tree  above 
his  head  and  he  escaped  unharmed. 

The  journey  to  Venice  at  this  time  involved  days 
of  wearisome  riding,  but  he  met  with  no  further 
adventure  and  in  due  course  of  time  arrived  there 
in  safety.  The  Queen  of  the  Adriatic  seemed  like 
a  fairy  city  when  the  young  Savoyard  first  beheld 
it.  Its  palaces  of  beauteous  tints,  its  waters  like 
molten  gold  in  the  rays  of  the  setting  sun,  its  gon- 
dolas with  their  picturesque  rowers,  its  fair  women 
leaning  against  their  silken  cushions  as  they  glided 
on  the  Grand  Canal,  and  with  it  all  the  tinkling  of 
lutes  and  voices  of  sweetest  melody  floating  on  the 
soft  breeze,  invested  the  scene  with  a  charm  which 
was  like  that  of  a  beautiful  dream  from  which  he 
feared  to  awaken. 

The  doge's  palace,  with  its  white  and  red  marble 
walls,  its  cloisters  and  great  balconied  windows, 
was  reached  at  last,  and  Philibert's  request,  accom- 
panied by  the  ring,  to  see  the  doge  himself,  ad- 
mitted him  to  the  presence  of  that  haughty  indi- 
vidual, who  carefully  listened  to  the  message,  not 
one  word  of  which  the  secretary  had  forgotten,  and 
gravely  replied  that  the  answer  would  be  given 
later,  as  the  matter  was  one  that  required  serious 
reflection  and  consultation  with  his  advisers,  who 
never  decided  in  haste. 

So  Philibert  had  an  opportunity  of  becoming  ac- 
quainted with  this  attractive  city,  and  he  stepped 
into  his  gondola  once  more,  anxious  to  become  one 

209 


THE    COURT  JESTER 

of  the  merry  throng  and  to  make  the  most  of  his 
spare  time. 

Many  glances  of  curiosity  and  interest  were  cast 
by  the  Venetian  ladies  at  the  handsome  young 
stranger,  who,  in  his  own  mind,  was  comparing 
them,  to  their  great  disadvantage,  to  a  certain  prin- 
cess far  off  in  the  imperial  palace  of  Vienna. 

When  the  reply  of  the  doge  was  handed  to  him 
on  the  following  morning,  Philibert  lost  no  time, 
but  departed  at  once,  as  became  a  trusted  messen- 
ger, though  it  was  with  regret  that  he  turned  his 
back  upon  Venice  and  its  many  attractions.  Noth- 
ing of  moment  occurred  on  the  return  journey,  and 
although  the  emperor  was  not  pleased  with  the  an- 
swer he  received,  for  the  Venetians  flatly  refused 
their  aid,  still  the  reply  prevented  a  certain  move 
he  had  planned,  and  was  m.ost  timely. 

Maximilian  complimented  his  young  secretary 
upon  the  fidelity  and  care  with  which  he  had  ac- 
complished his  errand.  Praise  from  such  a  source 
was  most  gratifying  to  its  recipient,  although  he 
felt  that  it  was  not  altogether  deserved.  He  had 
been  careless  at  the  outset,  and  in  his  code  of  honor 
it  was  almost  as  bad  to  act  as  to  tell  a  lie.  He  had 
regretted  the  falsehoods  he  had  been  obliged  to  tell 
the  Florentine  soldiers,  but  in  that  case  not  only  his 
own  life,  but  a  matter  of  vital  importance  to  a 
nation  was  at  stake.  Now,  however,  he  resolved 
not  to  accept  in  silence  compliments  that  were  not 
his  due. 

210 


A   MIDNIGHT  ADVENTURE 

"  I  was  not  altogether  faithful,  your  Majesty," 
said  he.  "  I  was  careless  at  first;  I  went  away  and 
forgot  the  ring  and  lost  at  least  five  hours'  time  in 
returning  for  it." 

"How  did  it  happen'^that  I  knew  nothing  of 
your  return?"  asked  the  emperor,  frowning. 

"None  knew  of  it,  your  Majesty,  excepting  Le 
Glorieux,  who  would  not  betray  me  even  to  you, 
and  one  poor  soldier  who  was  not  sufficiently  fa- 
miliar with  my  face  to  recognize  me." 

"  I  seem  to  be  blessed  with  capable  sentinels," 
observed  Maximilian  sarcastically. 

"  Your  sentinels  are  not  afraid  of  flesh  and  blood, 
your  Majesty;  they  fear  only  the  supernatural." 
Then  the  secretary  told  the  whole  story  of  his  mas- 
querade as  II  Capitano,  not  without  many  mis- 
givings as  to  the  result  of  the  revelation. 

The  emperor  scowled  at  first,  then  he  began  to 
laugh,  and  the  more  he  thought  about  it  the  louder 
he  laughed,  for  after  all  the  messenger  had  done 
what  he  was  sent  to  do,  and  that  better  than  most 
could  have  done  in  his  place,  so  why  not  enjoy  the 
humorous  side  of  it,  now  that  it  was  all  over  and 
done  with?  And  as  hearty  laughter  and  punish- 
ment never  go  hand  in  hand,  Philibert  felt  that  he 
was  forgiven. 

"  But  I  find  it  hard  to  forgive  you,"  he  afterward 
said  to  Le  Glorieux,  "  for  taking  it  for  granted  that 
I  was  a  coward  before  giving  me  an  opportunity  to 
explain." 

211 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

"When  a  man  who  has  been  sent  on  a  dangerous 
journey  is  found  some  time  after  he  is  supposed  to 
have  started,  snugly  hidden  under  his  own  bed,  it 
looks,  to  say  the  least,  somewhat  suspicious,"  replied 
the  fool.  "  How  was  I  to  know  that  you  had 
dressed  up  and  were  capering  about  in  a  mas- 
querade?" 

The  young  man  smiled.  "  Perhaps  you  had  rea- 
son to  believe  as  you  did,  for  appearances  were 
against  me,"  said  he.  Then  after  a  thoughtful 
pause  he  said,  "  My  good  Le  Glorieux,  that  was 
not  the  first  time  you  had  seen  me  masquerading. 
Do  you  remember  Saint  Monica  and  the  accusa- 
tion of  Cimburga?  " 

"Do  I  remember  it?  Does  a  man  ever  forget 
a  thing  like  that?"  asked  the  jester. 

"  Le  Glorieux,  did  it  never  occur  to  you  that  I 
was  Saint  Monica  on  that  occasion?" 

"  You !     Are  you  out  of  your  mind,  my  lad?  " 

"  My  friend,"  said  Philibert,  "  I  did  not  think 
that  the  saint  would  move,  and  I  was  anxious  to 
have  the  girl's  innocence  proven." 

"Why  should  you  have  been  anxious  about  the 
girl?"  asked  the  fool. 

"  Because  I  had  heard  a  prayer  that  I  wanted 
answered,  I  saw  the  Lady  Marguerite  kneeling  in 
the  chapel  before  the  altar,  and  in  her  clear,  sweet 
voice  she  was  praying  for  Cimburga,  who  she  be- 
lieved was  innocent.  I,  too,  believed  in  her  inno- 
cence,  for   I    had   learned   something   about   my 

212 


A   MIDNIGHT   ADVENTURE 

cousin's  nervous  ways,  and  had  made  up  my  mind 
that  she  had  lost  the  jewel  in  some  other  manner.  I 
slipped  some  gray,  colorless  drapery  from  the 
housekeeper's  room,  and  removing  the  statue  from 
the  pedestal,  which  was  not  difficult  to  do,  I  arrayed 
myself  and  played  the  part.  There  was,  I  imagine, 
a  good  deal  of  difference  between  my  appearance 
and  that  of  the  saint,  but  every  one  was  too  agitated 
to  notice  it.  And  as  the  girl  was  really  clear  of  all 
blame  in  the  matter,  who  knows  but  that  the  saint 
helped  her  in  another  way,  and,  knowing  that  her 
wooden  image  could  not  move,  put  it  into  my  head 
to  do  as  I  did?" 

"  And  I  called  you  a  carp  I "  exclaimed  the  jester. 


ai3 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE  LADY  MARGUERITE  IS  VERY  BRAVE 

The  campaign  in  Italy  at  this  time  proved  to  be 
a  failure,  and  the  emperor  returned  with  his  troops 
to  Austria. 

"  I  have  alw^ays  ^thought  I  should  like  to  ride 
through  the  streets  with  a  laurel  wreath  on  my 
brow  and  hear  the  people  screeching  with  delight 
at  the  very  sight  of  me,"  said  Le  Glorieux,  "  but  I 
always  happen  to  be  on  the  other  side  when  a  vic- 
tory is  won." 

Being  sent  to  attend  to  some  matters  for  his  royal 
master,  Philibert  was  detained  for  a  week  in  the 
Tyrol,  and  when  he  arrived  at  the  palace  in  Vienna 
the  first  person  he  met  was  one  of  his  cousin's 
women,  who  told  him  that  her  mistress  wished  to 
speak  to  him  at  once. 

The  Lady  Clotilde  had  changed  not  at  all  during 
her  stay  in  Austria,  and  she  received  her  young 
kinsman  with  a  relaxation  of  her  usual  dignity 
that  surprised  him.  "  My  dear  Philibert,"  she  said, 
kissing  him  upon  both  cheeks,  "  I  congratulate  you 
upon  your  improved  prospects." 

"My  improved  prospects?  Has  the  em- 
peror  " 

214 


LADY  MARGUERITE  VERY   BRAVE 

"Oh,  no,  the  emperor  has  nothing  to  'do  witK 
what  I  am  speaking  of.  Of  course,  death  is  a  terri- 
ble thing,  but  people  must  die,  and  even  if  we  wish 
they  could  be  spared,  it  makes  no  difiference." 

"  My  dear  cousin,"  said  Philibert  patiently, 
"  will  you  not  tell  me  who  is  dead  and  why  I  should 
be  congratulated?" 

*' Who  should  it  be,  you  thoughtless  boy,  but  the 
Duke  of  Savoy,  and  your  father  was  the  heir  to  the 
title.  You  are  the  future  Duke  of  Savoy!  You 
are  a  personage  of  importance!  "  and  she  kissed  him 
again.  "  Think  of  what  a  fine  marriage  you  may 
now  make! " 

Philibert  blushed  at  her  words,  but  his  eyes 
shone  with  a  new  light.  "  I  had  not  heard  of  our 
new  dignity,"  he  said.  "  I  shall  doubtless  find  a 
letter  when  I  go  to  my  room." 

"  And,  my  dear  boy,  I  have  news  of  my  own  to 
tell  you,"  went  on  the  Lady  Clotilde,  simpering. 
"  I  suppose  I  should  have  waited  until  your  return, 
and  I  should  have  notified  my  other  relatives,  but 
I  always  was  so  romantic.  Philibert,  I  have  mar- 
ried again." 

*^  What!"  cried  the  young  man,  in  amazement. 

*'  I  do  not  see  why  you  are  so  surprised,"  she  re- 
turned coldly.  "  You  could  not  seem  more  aston- 
ished if  you  had  seen  a  ghost.  Why  should  I  not 
marry  if  I  feel  so  inclined?" 

"Why  not,  indeed?  I  beg  your  pardon.  Cousin. 
Who  is  the  happy  man?" 

215 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

"  It  Is  the  Spanish  attache,  Don  Geronlmo  Bar- 
tolomeo  Zurriago  y  Escafusa,"  she  returned,  say- 
ing the  long  name  with  a  good  deal  of  pride.  "  He 
owns  an  estate  in  his  own  country  to  which  he 
would  have  returned  long  ago  if — well,  if  there 
had  not  been  attractions  at  the  court  of  Austria." 

"  I  hope  you  will  be  very  happy,  Cousin,"  said 
Philibert,  excusing  himself  as  soon  as  it  was  possi- 
ble, for  he  wanted  to  be  alone  and  think  of  all  that 
his  new  dignity  might  bring  to  him. 

Leaving  the  Lady  Clotilde's  apartment,  he  met 
Le  Glorieux,  who  was  bubbling  over  with  news. 
"  So  many  things  have  happened,  even  in  the  week 
since  we  returned,"  said  the  jester,  "  that  it  seems 
to  me  it  will  take  a  week  to  repeat  them.  In  the 
first  place,  Clotilde  is  married." 

"  So  she  has  just  informed  me." 

"When  I  heard  it,"  went  on  the  jester,  "I  was 
so  surprised  that  it  almost  made  me  ill.  But  the 
people  who  marry,  and  especially  the  other  people 
they  select  to  marry,  is  a  mystery  I  never  could 
solve." 

"The  Lady  Marguerite  is  well,  I  hope?  "  asked 
Philibert. 

"  Yes,  and  happy  and  fair  as  a  flower,  and  her 
stepmother  is  still  high-tempered  and  fond  of  shell- 
fish. But  that  is  not  news.  First  I  will  begin  with 
Antoine.  He  has  distinguished  himself  greatly 
in  the  way  of  singing,  and  the  emperor  has  made 
him  one  of  his  own  musicians.     And  the  rascal, 

216 


LADY  MARGUERITE  VERY   BRAVE 

who  has  grown  wonderfully  during  the  last  few 
months,  is  almost  as  tall  as  I  am,  and  he  is  very 
proud  of  his  new  uniform.  And  next,  great  doings 
have  been  going  on  in  our  negotiations  with  Spain  1 
As  I  remarked  to  you  once  before,  if  you  will  re- 
member, our  friend  Manuel  works  quietly,  but  he 
works  hard." 

*'  What  do  you  mean?  "  asked  the  secretary,  turn- 
ing pale.  "  You  do  not  mean  that  she  is  going  to 
Spain?" 

"  If  you  will  not  use  names,  of  course  I  can  not 
be  expected  to  know  about  whom  you  are  talking," 
replied  the  fool.  "But  a  certain  'she'  is  coming 
from  Spain.  The  Princess  Juana  is  coming  with  a 
great  fleet  to  be  the  daughter-in-law  of  Maximilian 
and  the  wife  of  the  Archduke  Philip." 

"  You  do  not  mean  to  tell  me  that  all  this  has  been 
planned  in  a  week?"  asked  Philibert,  with  a  sigh 
of  relief. 

"  No,  it  has  been  going  on  for  some  time,  but  we 
have  only  known  about  it  within  the  last  week. 
You  see,  even  his  secretary  does  not  see  all  the  let- 
ters Max  receives  and  sends  away.  But  there  is 
still  more  to  tell  you." 

"What,  more?"  laughed  his  listener. 

"Yes,  and  most  important  of  all.  Cunegunda 
has  been  crying  her  eyes  almost  out." 

"  Do  you  call  that  news?  " 

"No,  I  do  not  know  that  I  can  call  that  part  of 
it  news.  The  very  first  thing  that  woman  did  when 

217 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

she  saw  me  was  to  burst  into  tears,"  went  on  the 
jester  in  an  injured  tone.  "  I  appeal  to  you,  I  ap- 
peal to  any  man,  if  there  is  anything  mournful  in 
my  appearance?  If  I  went  about  clothed  in  crape 
I  could  not  have  a  sadder  effect  upon  her  than  I  do 
in  rny  jester's  suit.  She  said  she  was  crying  because 
she  was  afraid  something  was  going  to  happen,  and 
the  next  day  when  I  saw  her  she  cried  because  it 
had  happened.  You  see  she  had  lost  no  time,  but 
had  begun  to  weep  in  good  season." 

"  I  wonder  if  you  have  heard  my  news, — that 
my  father  has  succeeded  to  the  dukedom  of 
Savoy?"  asked  the  other  as  the  jester  paused. 

"  Yes,  I  have  heard  it,  my  boy,  and  I  congratu- 
late you  with  all  my  heart,"  said  the  fool  hastily. 
"  It  is  a  fine  inheritance,  and  one  day  you  will  be 
Philibert  the  Second,  Duke  of  Savoy.  Accept  my 
felicitations." 

"  Thank  you.  And  you  see,  Le  Glorieux,  there 
is  quite  a  difference  between  the  heir  of  the  Count 
de  Bresse  and  the  heir  of  the  duke  of  a  wealthy 
province,  and  I  feel  that  I  can  hope — well,  I  can 
hope  for  almost  anything." 

"  Hope,"  said  the  jester  gravely,  "  is  one  of  the 
finest  things  in  this  world,  and  I  wish  we  all  had 
more  of  it.  But  you  have  not  asked  me  what  made 
Cunegunda  weep." 

"No,"  said  Philibert  absently,  as  one  whose 
mind  is  traveling  far  afield ;  "  what  did  make  Cune- 
gunda weep?  " 

218 


LADY   MARGUERITE   VERY    BRAVE 

"  Because,"  replied  the  jester,  "  she  has  the  nar- 
rowest mind  of  any  woman  living." 

"And  she  is  only  beginning  to  find  it  out?" 
asked  the  other,  laughing. 

"Oh,  she  has  not  found  it  out,  and  never  will, 
though  I  have  known  it  from  the  beginning  of  our 
acquaintance.  Now  I  ask  you,  why  should  not 
Spain  be  a  good  country  to  live  in?  There  are 
flowers  and  palaces  and  oranges  and  bull-fights 
and  everything  to  make  a  man  or  woman  comforta- 
ble, and  there  are  plenty  of  new  friends,  I  dare  say, 
if  one  cares  to  make  them;  still  that  woman  is 
drowned  in  tears  because  she  must  go  there,  as  if 
it  were  purgatory." 

"  Why  must  she  go  to  Spain  if  she  does  not  care 
to  do  so?  "  asked  Philibert. 

"  Because  she  will  not  leave  her  young  mistress," 
replied  the  fool  deliberately. 

"  You  do  not  mean " 

"Yes,  I  do  mean  just  that.  As  I  have  said  be- 
fore, Manuel  has  worked  hard,  and  the  same  fleet 
that  brings  the  Spanish  infanta  to  our  shores  will 
take  away  our  own  little  princess  to  be  the  bride  of 
the  young  Prince  of  the  Asturias,  only  son  of  Fer- 
dinand and  Isabella,  and  heir  to  the  kingdoms  of 
Castile,  and  Leon,  and  Aragon,  and  I  can  not  tell 
how  many  other  countries.  And  I  am  going  with 
her,  and  so  is  the  weeping  Cunegunda,  and  a  large 
suite  of  ladies  and  gentlemen."  And  thus  chatter- 
ing, and  without  casting  another  glance  at  Phili- 

2ip 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

bert  de  Bresse,  heir  to  the  dukedom  of  Savoy,  the 
jester  left  the  room. 

The  Lady  Marguerite,  who  had  grown  still  more 
fair  to  look  upon  during  his  absence,  received  Phil- 
ibert  with  a  cordial  greeting,  and  with  a  word  of 
congratulation  upon  his  new  dignity,  as  future 
ruler  of  Savoy. 

He  replied,  "You  are  very  kind,  your  High- 
ness, but  in  a  world  full  of  sorrow  and  disappoint- 
ment, rank  and  wealth  are  of  little  account." 

"  You  speak  as  mournfully  as  one  who  is  about 
to  become  a  monk,"  she  returned  in  a  tone  of 
surprise. 

"  Such  a  step  on  my  part  is  not  improbable,  your 
Highness,"  was  the  reply. 

Some  days  later,  the  princess  said  to  Le  Glo- 
rieux,  "  Philibert  de  Bresse  has  not  been  the  same 
since  his  return  from  Italy.  What  spell  was  cast 
over  him  in  that  country?" 

"  Almost  any  question  can  be  solved,"  said  the 
jester,  with  a  wise  look,  "  if  one  will  sit  down  and 
think  it  out  quietly.  I  have  wondered  for  a  long 
time  why  the  climate  of  Austria  has  agreed  so  well 
with  Clotilde,  and  I  find  that  It  was  all  owing  to 
Don  Geronimo  Bartolomeo  Zurriago  y  Escafusa. 
Is  it  not  wonderful  how  well  I  recollect  that  name? 
And  the  beauty  of  it  is  that  once  learned  I  shall 
never  forget  it." 

"What  has  all  that  to  do  with  Philibert  de 
Bresse?"  asked  the  princess. 

220 


LADY   MARGUERITE  VERY    BRAVE 

"  That  has  nothing  to  do  with  him,  of  course;  I 
am  simply  leading  up  to  him.  This  is  what  I  have 
figured  out  for  Philibert.  Of  course  he  knows  that 
he  must  marry  some  time;  few  men  can  escape 
matrimony.  When  he  was  plain  future  Count  de 
Breese  he  had  a  wider  selection  of  ladies  with 
whom  he  might  wed.  Now  that  he  is  the  future 
Duke  of  Savoy,  there  is  a  smaller  number  from 
whom  he  may  choose;  for,  though  I  never  could 
see  the  justice  of  it,  there  always  is  more  milk  than 
there  is  cream." 

"  He  is  very  young  to  be  thinking  of  such  things," 
said  Marguerite  coldly. 

"  When  you  come  to  age,  he  is  no  younger  than 
your  noble  brother,  who  is  to  wed  the  Princess 
Juana;  or  the  young  heir  of  Spain,  who  is  to  wed 
a  certain  princess  of  my  acquaintance,  a  lady  not 
quite  sixteen.  Let  us  suppose  that  Philibert  had 
his  mind  fixed  upon  some  maiden,  who  was  in  his 
own  rank  when  he  was  simply  to  be  a  count,  then, 
suddenly,  he  pops  up  into  the  circle  of  dukes,  where 
he  must  look  down  upon  her.  It  is  enough  to  make 
any  man  gloomy." 

"  Sometimes  you  talk  in  a  very  sensible  manner, 
Le  Glorieux,"  said  the  Lady  Marguerite,  frown- 
ing, "but  to-day  you  speak  nothing  but  nonsense." 
And  she  walked  away  with  her  head  held  high  as 
was  always  the  case  when  she  was  out  of  temper. 

Looking  after  her  slender  figure  as  it  disap- 
peared through  an  archway,  the  jester  muttered  to 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

himself,  "  Not  to  contradict  a  princess  of  the  blood 
royal,  I  want  to  say  that  I  never  was  more  sensi- 
ble than  I  am  at  this  very  moment." 

One  summer  day  a  gallant  armada  set  sail  for 
the  fcoast  of  Flanders.  It  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty  fine  vessels,  and  it  was  manned  by  hun- 
dreds of  sailors;  it  carried  the  chivalry  of  Spain, 
and  it  was  commanded  by  the  Admiral  of  Castile. 
Never  had  so  beautiful  a  fleet  sailed  from  the 
Spanish  coast,  for  it  brought  to  Philip  of  Flanders, 
the  son  of  Maximilian,  his  bride,  the  Infanta  Juana. 

The  people  were  eager  to  see  the  bride  of  their 
prince,  but  if  they  had  expected  a  beauty,  they  were 
disappointed.  Juana  was  pale  and  delicate  in  ap- 
pearance, and,  as  a  French  writer  of  the  time  ex- 
presses it,  "  a  somber  fire  seemed  to  burn  in  her 
eyes." 

"We  shall  send  Spain  a  far  handsomer  bride 
than  she  sent  to  us,"  said  Le  Glorieux   exultantly. 

The  wedding  of  Philip  and  Juana  took  place  in 
Lille  with  great  pomp  and  ceremony,  and  the  fleet 
waited,  for  it  was  to  take  another  royal  bride  on 
its  return  trip^  \But  many  of  the  vessels  needed 
repairs  after  their  stormy  voyage,  and  it  was  some 
time  before  they  were  ready  to  sail. 

Philibert  de  Bresse,  in  the  meantime,  had  re- 
ceived news  of  the  death  of  his  father;  and,  taking 
leave  of  his  friends  at  court,  he  returned  to  his 
own  country,  of  which  he  was  now  the  ruler. 

222 


LADY  MARGUERITE  VERY   BRAVE 

A  little  princess  saying  farewell  to  her  parents 
to  go  to  a  strange  land  where  she  must  remain  as 
long  as  she  lives,  is  one  of  the  pathetic  sides  of 
history;  but  Marguerite,  although  very  sad  at  the 
thought  of  leaving  her  adored  father,  endeavored 
to  be  resigned  and  even  cheerful.  Before  the  day 
of  her  departure  there  came  a  messenger  from 
Savoy  with  a  little  packet  for  the  princess.  It  con- 
tained a  locket  in  which  was  set  in  diamonds  and 
emeralds  an  edelweiss,  accompanied  by  the  fol- 
lowing words,  "  The  name  of  this  flower  signifies 
*  noble  purity,'  a  fitting  gift  for  this  fair  daughter 
of  the  Hapsburgs." 

After  all  Marguerite  was  little  more  than  a 
child,  and  she  could  not  but  look  forward  with 
pleasure  to  the  coming  voyage,  since  if  one  must 
leave  one's  native  land,  it  is  good  to  sail  away  with 
a  splendid  fleet.  But  Cunegunda  was  inclined  to 
take  a  gloomy  view  of  the  coming  journey.  "  When 
you  travel  by  land,"  said  she,  "you  may  be  killed, 
of  course,  but  even  in  that  case,  you  are  there  in 
plain  view  and  can  be  seen ;  but  if  you  are  drowned, 
why,  where  are  you?  " 

"  In  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  where  you  are  every 
bit  as  comfortable  as  you  would  be  on  land,  if  you 
were  dead,"  said  Le  Glorieux. 

"  It  is  a  very  dangerous  trip,  and  I  weep  when- 
ever I  think  of  it,"  said  the  good  woman. 

"  You  weep  when  you  do  not  think  of  it,  so  what 
diflference  does  it  make?  "  asked  the  jester.    Brutus, 

223 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

who  now  was  full  grown  and  a  hound  of  extraor- 
dinary intelligence,  looked  at  Le  Glorieux  and 
wagged  his  tail,  as  if  fully  approving  of  this  senti- 
ment. "  It  is  true,  is  it  not,  my  friend  Brutus, 
that  Cunegunda  never  misses  a  chance  to  cry?" 
asked  the  fool,  patting  the  dog's  head. 

"  I  know  something  that  will  make  you  cry," 
said  Cunegunda  maliciously. 

"  You  could  not  make  me  cry,  my  good  lady," 
replied  he.  "  Think  of  all  for  which  I  have  to  be 
thankful:  I  am  still  young,  I  am  handsome,  I  am 
going  to  Spain,  the  land  of  bull-fights,  flowers,  and 
oranges.  My  little  princess  is  going  to  marry  one 
of  the  finest  princes  of  his  time,  and  we  shall  all 
be  happy,  even  you,  for  wherever  you  are  you 
can  always  find  something  to  cry  about;  and  weep- 
ing is  your  favorite  occupation." 

"The  Lady  Clotilde  is  going  to  Spain  with  us," 
said  Cunegunda  slyly. 

"  You  do  not  mean  it!  "  exclaimed  the  jester,  con- 
siderably dismayed. 

"  But  I  do  mean  it.  You  might  have  known  that 
her  husband  would  some  time  take  her  to  his  native 
country." 

"  Yes,  but  not  at  this  time,"  cried  the  fool  excit- 
edly. "  Why  must  she  go  on  this  particular  voyage? 
Why  is  it  always  convenient  for  Clotilde  to  start 
out  just  as  I  am  going?  She  will  miss  some  article 
that  she  owns,  and  every  ship  will  have  to  be 
searched  for  it.     Is  it  not  strange  the  way  things 

224 


LADY   MARGUERITE  VERY   BRAVE 

come  about  in  this  world?"  he  continued  com- 
plainingly.  "  I  love  that  little  rascal  of  an  Antoine, 
and  he  is  to  remain  here.  I  am  fond  of  Pandora 
and  Pittacus,  though  they  always  treat  me  with 
cold  indifiference,  and  they  must  be  left  behind; 
but  Clotilde,  whom  I  would  gladly  spare,  goes 
with  me!" 

With  this  double  marriage  Austria  was  making 
a  precious  gift  to  Spain — she  was  giving  the  great 
possessions  of  the  Hapsburgs,  but  the  fairest  gift 
of  all  was  the  young  princess,  whose  departure 
drew  out  a  great  concourse  of  people.  With  flags 
flying  and  pennons  waving,  the  ships  were  waiting, 
the  largest  and  the  handsomest  for  the  Lady  Mar- 
guerite and  her  suite.  The  picture  of  the  princess 
that  remained  in  the  memory  of  those  who  saw  her 
on  that  day  was  a  slight,  graceful  figure  stand- 
ing where  the  sunlight  shone  full  on  her  sweet 
young  face,  and  with  one  hand  resting  on  the  head 
of  her  hound. 

Then  the  great  fleet  fluttered  away  like  a  flight 
of  huge  butterflies,  skimming  southward. 

"  I  do  not  see  why  I  should  feel  so  melancholy," 
said  Le  Glorieux,  going  inside  and  sitting  with  his 
head  on  his  hands  and  his  elbows  on  his  knees. 
"Austria  was  not  my  native  country;  I  was  born 
in  old  Burgundy,  and  it  is  too  late  to  be  sniveling 
at  parting  from  Burgundy.  It  is  because  I  have 
parted  with  that  little  villain  of  an  Antoine  that  I 
am  like  this.     When  I  saw  the  little  wretch  smil- 

225 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

ing  at  me  from  the  shore,  and  waving  his  hand  and 
blinking  his  eyes,  as  if  he  were  trying  to  keep  back 
the  tears,  what  must  this  tough  old  heart  of  mine 
do  but  climb  right  into  my  throat  and  try  to  choke 
me  to  death.  A  heart  that  has  served  me  well  for 
all  these  years  to  play  me  a  trick  like  that!  " 

''Will  you  please  rise?"  said  a  cold  metallic 
voice  at  his  elbow.  Glancing  up  Le  Glorieux  be- 
held Don  Geronimo,  the  husband  of  the  Lady  Clo- 
tilde.  The  jester's  gaze  traveled  up  the  tall,  thin 
form  of  the  Spaniard  until  it  reached  his  face, 
which  was  dark  and  reminded  the  fool  of  tanned 
leather. 

"  There  being  no  particular  reason  why  I  should 
rise,  I  shall  not  rise  until  it  pleases  me  to  do  so," 
said  he. 

"  Permit  my  servant  to  take  those  cushions  which 
are  beneath  you,"  said  Don  Geronimo  icily.  "  You 
are  sitting  on  a  whole  pile  of  them.  They  are 
wanted  for  my  wife,  the  Dona  Clotilde,  who  is 
overcome." 

"  I  will  give  anything  to  any  lady  at  any  time," 
said  the  fool,  rising,  "  but  I  should  like  to  know 
what  has  overcome  your  lady  wife  so  soon." 

"  Parting  from  her  friends,"  replied  the  Span- 
iard, following  his  man,  who  was  loaded  down 
with  cushions. 

*'  She  did  not  care  as  much  for  the  whole  of 
Austria  and  Flanders  as  I  cared  for  that  miserable 
little  Antoine,"  grumbled  the  fool ;  "  yet  she  must 

226 


LADY  MARGUERITE  VERY   BRAVE 

be  packed  away  in  cushions  that  are  jerked  from 
under  my  very  body  to  make  her  comfortable. 
And  our  princess  is  so  bravely  bearing  the  parting 
from  her  father,  and  is  giving  no  trouble  whatever! 
Any  one  would  think  it  is  Clotilde  who  is  being 
sent  away  in  such  state  by  Austria." 

The  first  day  out  it  seemed  as  if  the  voyage  was 
to  be  a  calm  and  safe  one.  When  the  novelty  of 
gazing  at  the  blue  waters  had  worn  off,  the  princess 
and  her  ladies  took  their  embroidery  frames  and 
passed  their  time  with  their  needles,  laughing  and 
chattering  together.  As  soon  as  she  had  ceased 
to  be  overcome,  the  Lady  Clotilde  joined  them. 
iWhen  the  conversation  turned  to  the  perils  of  the 
ocean,  she  declared  that  she,  for  one,  did  not  fear 
them,  being  a  true  representative  of  a  family  that 
knew  no  fear.  She  related  a  number  of  incidents 
when,  according  to  her  story,  she  had  stood  within 
the  very  jaws  of  death  without  the  slightest  thrill 
of  fear. 

Le  Glorieux,  who  was  sitting  at  the  feet  of  his 
young  mistress  playing  with  the  silk-and-gold 
threads  of  her  embroider}^,  remarked,  "  That  is  be- 
cause you  spend  so  much  of  your  time  in  pious 
reading.  Cousin  Clotilde.  Did  you  bring  with  you 
the  silver  book  about  the  saints?" 

The  princess  tried  to  frown  at  him,  but  he  saw 
the  twinkle  of  a  smile  under  her  long,  dark  lashes. 

But  these  were  the  last  peaceful  hours  they  spent 
for  many  days.     In  the  darkness  of  the  night  the 

227 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

storm  demon  came  forth,  shrieking  in  the  wind, 
and  beating  the  waves  into  fury,  holding  the  ships 
a  trembling  instant  on  the  crest  of  the  wave,  then 
dashing  them  into  the  trough  of  the  sea,  sending 
some  of  them  down  to  destruction. 

Half  dressed,  the  passengers  of  the  Lady  Mar- 
guerite's ship  rushed  out  into  the  salon.  They 
forgot  that  they  were  the  great  ones  of  the  earth 
and  that  to  them  had  been  given  the  honor  of  es- 
corting a  princess  to  her  bridegroom.  They  knelt 
on  the  floor,  and  moaned,  and  told  their  beads,  just 
as  so  many  peasants  might  have  done. 

The  Lady  Marguerite  was  calm,  though  very 
pale;  close  beside  her  stood  Le  Glorieux,  self- 
possessed,  but  no  longer  jesting.  "  If  the  good  God 
is  ready  to  take  me  now,  I  could  not  have  a  happier 
death  than  to  go  down  with  my  little  princess," 
said  he. 

Cunegunda  held  her  lady's  hand,  which,  for- 
getting her  own  danger,  she  stroked,  with  words  of 
endearment,  while  Brutus  crept  to  her  feet,  and 
putting  his  head  on  her  lap,  looked  into  the  face 
of  his  mistress  as  if  to  say  that  he,  too,  was  ready  to 
die  with  her. 

The  storm  did  not  abate  with  the  approach  of 
day,  nor  did  it  cease  the  next  day,  nor  for  many 
days,  and  it  seemed  as  if  their  ship  must  be  rent  to 
pieces  by  the  combined  forces  of  wind  and  wave. 

Once  Le  Glorieux  seized  Cunegunda  by  the 
shoulders  and  bawled  into  her  ears,  "You  are  al- 

228 


LADY   MARGUERITE   VERY    BRAVE 

ways  crying;  cry  now,  when  there  is  some  reason 
for  it."  But  strange  to  say,  Cunegunda  shed  no 
tears,  though  the  Lady  Clotilde  shrieked  and  wept 
continuously,  seeming  to  forget  all  the  traditions  of 
her  family. 

.  When  learning  that  a  number  of  the  vessels  had 
been  lost,  and  that  none  could  tell  at  what  moment 
her  own  ship  would  go  down.  Marguerite  put 
certain  jewels  on  her  fingers,  neck,  and  arms  that 
had  long  been  in  the  possession  of  the  house  of 
Hapsburg.  "  The  body  of  a  princess  is  not  dif- 
ferent from  that  of  a  peasant,"  she  said  to  her  faith- 
ful attendants,  "  and  it  may  be  that  the  fury  of  the 
storm  will  spare  me  some  of  these  jewels ;  so  that  if 
I  am  washed  ashore  I  shall  be  identified."  Then 
she  smiled  to  keep  up  the  courage  of  the  others  and 
said,  "  It  seems  that  with  all  the  planning  of  nations 
I  am  never  to  be  a  wife." 

Then  taking  a  slip  of  paper  she  wrote  upon  it 
two  lines,  which  she  wrapped  in  a  piece  of  oiled 
silk  and  fastened  to  her  bracelet.  These  lines, 
written  in  French,  may  be  translated  as  follows, 
"  Here  lies  Marguerite,  a  noble  maiden,  who, 
though  given  two  husbands,  died  a  maid." 

But  even  a  storm  at  sea  can  not  last  for  ever,  and 
the  stout  ship,  being  mercifully  spared,  arrived 
at  last  with  the  remainder  of  the  fleet  in  safety  at 
the  port  of  Santander. 


229 


CHAPTER  XII 

AN  AUSTRIAN  PRINCESS  AT  THE  SPANISH  COURT 

Up  from  the  south  came  the  young  Prince  of 
the  Asturias  to  meet  his  Austrian  bride.  His  greet- 
ing was  in  accordance  with  the  strictest  rules  of 
Spanish  etiquette,  but  all  were  favorably  impressed 
by  his  gracious  affability  and  by  the  gentle  dignity 
of  his  manner. 

Under  the  eye  of  his  thoughtful  mother,  this 
prince  had  been  carefully  educated  to  be  the  ruler 
of  his  country.  As  a  child  he  was  attended  by 
pages  of  his  own  age,  and  they  formed  mimic  coun- 
cils and  played  at  being  grown-up  rulers.  He  had 
been  taught  fencing  by  a  celebrated  swordsman, 
and  at  night  his  sword  always  hung  at  the  head  of 
his  bed.  When  only  twelve  years  of  age  he  had 
been  knighted  on  the  battlefield  by  King  Ferdi- 
nand, his  father.  He  could  paint  and  draw,  and  he 
could  play  on  several  different  instruments,  for 
Queen  Isabella  was  determined  that  her  son  should 
be  one  of  the  most  accomplished  princes  of  his 
time. 

The  prince  was  accompanied  by  his  royal  father, 
and  the  Lady  Marguerite  and  her  suite  were 
escorted  in  great  state  to  the  old  city  of  Burgos. 

230 


Never  had  preparations  so  grand  been  made      Page  2JJ 


AT   THE   SPANISH    COURT 

Here  they  were  met  by  the  queen  and  the  Spanish 
court. 

The  steed  ridden  by  Queen  Isabella  was  covered 
with  crimson  cloth  richly  embroidered  with  gold. 
Her  saddle  was  like  a  chair  of  state,  and  she 
seemed  as  if  seated  on  a  moving  throne.  She  was 
still  a  handsome  woman,  with  gold-tinted  hair  and 
soft,  earnest  eyes.  Following  her,  and  mounted 
on  richly-caparisoned  mules,  were  scores  of  court 
ladies  who  seemed  to  have  competed  with  each 
other  in  the  magnificence  of  their  costumes.  With 
other  high  dignitaries  of  the  church  came  the 
queen's  confessor,  Ximenes,  Archbishop  of  Toledo. 
This  stern  man  was  clothed  in  all  the  splendor  of 
his  office,  but  underneath  these  elegant  robes,  we 
are  told,  was  haircloth  which  scraped  his  flesh, 
already  bruised  by  the  frequent  beatings  which  he 
gave  himself  Vv'ith  a  whip. 

History  tells  us  that  Queen  Isabella  had  taken 
great  pains  to  arrange  the  meeting  of  the  royal 
family  with  the  Austrian  princess,  and  that  she 
had  planned  just  who  was  to  kiss  and  who  was  to 
embrace  the  young  stranger,  but  however  this  may 
be,  the  ceremony  passed  off  in  a  satisfactory  man- 
ner, and  the  Lady  Marguerite  was  quite  charmed 
with  her  new  mother. 

Never  had  preparations  so  grand  been  made  for 
royal  nuptials  as  were  arranged  for  the  wedding  of 
the  Prince  of  the  Asturias  with  the  Lady  Margue- 
rite of  Hapsburg.     There  were  present  grandees 

231 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

representing  the  chivalry  of  Spain,  men  who  had 
distinguished  themselves  on  the  battlefield  and  in 
the  tournament;  there  were  ambassadors  from  the 
courts  of  all  the  civilized  world;  there  were  dig- 
nitaries from  all  the  cities  of  Spain,  there  were 
great  ladies  in  glittering  apparel,  and  the  king  and 
queen  in  their  mantles  of  state;  but  most  interest- 
ing of  all  was  the  young  prince,  whom  his  people 
already  loved,  and  his  fair  young  bride. 

Dressed  in  his  gayest  suit,  Le  Glorieux  stood 
where  he  could  obtain  the  best  view  of.  his  young 
mistress.  At  the  most  interesting  moment,  just  as 
the  ceremony  was  about  to  begin,  there  was  a  buzz 
of  excitement  around  him,  and  Don  Geronimo 
whispered  in  his  ear,  "Will  you  stand  aside?  I 
am  looking  for  the  pomander-box  of  Doiia  Clo- 
tilde,  which  has  dropped  to  the  floor."  But  the 
fool  folded  his  arms  and  pretended  not  to  hear. 

And  then  followed  days  of  fetes  and  tourneys 
and  tilts.  The  Spanish  people  enjoyed  these 
amusements  in  a  dignified  and  even  a  serious  man- 
ner, and  when  the  princess  and  her  suite  laughed 
and  clapped  their  hands  at  some  particularly  clever 
feat,  the  courtiers  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  were 
shocked  at  such  levity. 

When  the  public  rejoicings  were  over  the  prince 
and  princess  went  to  their  palace  at  Salamanca,  a 
city  of  beautiful  creamy  stone,  built  on  three  hills 
and  in  a  horse-shoe  shape,  which,  with  its  stately 
college  of  seventeen  thousand  students,  gave  many 

232 


AT   THE   SPANISH   COURT 

fetes  and  outdid  itself  in  bull-fights  to  celebrate  the 
coming  of  the  youthful  pair. 

It  is  said  that  one  of  the  first  acts  of  Prince  Juan 
was  to  engage  professors  and  performers  of  music, 
both  instrumental  and  vocal,  who,  with  fiddles, 
organs,  cymbals,  hautboys,  and  other  instruments, 
played  the  lively  airs  of  Spain.  He  also  had  a 
large  military  band,  and  one  afternoon  when  Le 
Glorieux  was  lounging  in  the  window  listening  to 
its  music,  the  princess  entered  the  room.  She 
wore  a  splendid  gown  with  a  very  long  train,  and 
she  looked  quite  tall  and  stately.  It  was  the  first 
time  the  jester  had  seen  her  alone  since  their  ar- 
rival in  this  country,  and  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  ex- 
claiming,   "  Little    Cousin "    just    as    he    had 

addressed  her  since  the  beginning  of  their  ac- 
quaintance. But  the  Princess  of  the  Asturias  held 
her  head  higher  and  eyed  him  coldly,  without  mak- 
ing a  reply. 

Very  much  chagrined  at  this  treatment,  for  she 
ever  had  been  most  gracious  in  her  manner  toward 
him,  the  fool  turned  and  was  about  to  leave  the 
room  without  another  word,  when  he  was  startled 
by  a  merry  laugh. 

"  Did  I  do  it  well?  "  she  asked  gayly. 

"You  did  it  too  well!  I  was  already  homesick, 
and  if  you  had  turned  to  ice  like  the  people  of 
this  country,  I  should  have  been  broken-hearted. 
Never  was  there  a  place  so  stiff  and  cold  as  this 
Spanish  court.    The  king  is  shorter  than  the  queen 

233 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

and  is  not  very  big  to  look  at  when  you  come  to 
stature,  but  I  would  no  more  think  of  jesting  with 
him,  as  I  always  did  with  Max,  than  I  would  think 
of  sitting  down  to  have  a  little  fun  with  my  grand- 
mother's tomb.  And  I  am  not  a  man  who  is  easily 
chilled,  either!" 

''  I  am  told,"  said  the  princess,  "  that  I  am  too 
careless  and  gay,  and  that  I  must  be  like  the  ladies 
of  Spain.  And  although  I  am  allowed  to  retain 
my  own  people  about  me,  they  must  all  conduct 
themselves  in  a  grave  and  ceremonious  manner." 

"Thank  fortune  that  I  am  a  fool,"  said  Le  Glo- 
rieux,  "  for  who  ever  heard  of  a  jester  who  was 
grave  and  ceremonious?  But  I  shall  be  sad  and 
mournful,  my  Princess,  if  you  freeze  up  as  you  did 
just  now,  and  continue  to  stay  frozen." 

"  I  must  try  to  please  my  husband's  people,"  re- 
plied Marguerite  seriously.  "  If  I  am  one  day  to 
be  Queen  of  Spain  I  must  learn  to  be  like  a  Span- 
ish woman.  And  I  hope  that  my  own  people  will 
not  ofifend  by  showing  too  much  levity  and 
frivolity." 

"  One  of  your  suite  has  become  a  thorough  Span- 
iard," said  Le  Glorieux,  "  and  that  is  Brutus.  He 
follows  the  prince  everywhere." 

"Yes,"  replied  Marguerite,  "the  prince  loves 
him  and  Brutus  is  fond  of  his  new  master.  In  this 
he  shows  good  judgment,  for  the  prince  is  very, 
very  good." 

The   princess   sighed  as  she  spoke  and  gazed 

234 


The  Prince  took  a  seat  on  a  marble  bench       Page  2JS 


AT   THE   SPANISH   COURT 

dreamily  out  of  the  window.  "  I  wonder  if  she, 
too,  is  homesick,"  thought  the  jester.  "Well,  as 
for  me,  I  have  seen  the  bull-fights,  the  flowers,  and 
oranges  of  Spain,  and  I  wish  I  could  take  my  little 
princess  and  go  home  to  Max." 

From  the  window  they  could  see  Prince  Juan 
walking  in  the  garden,  and  by  his  side  stepped 
Brutus,  the  master  occasionally  pausing  to  pat  the 
dog's  head  or  to  stroke  his  silky  ears.  "  He  is  a 
good  man,"  remarked  the  jester,  "  or  Brutus  would 
not  be  so  fond  of  him." 

Now  the  prince  took  a  seat  on  a  marble  bench 
beside  the  fountain  and  turned  his  pale  face,  with 
its  thoughtful  brow,  toward  the  sinking  sun,  still 
absently  drawing  the  hound's  ears  through  his  thin 
white  fingers.  "  I  said  something  to  him  this  morn- 
ing that  used  to  make  the  emperor  laugh,  but  the 
prince  only  smiled  in  that  far-ofT  way,  as  if  his 
mind  were  traveling  through  the  moon,"  said  Le 
Glorieux.  "He  is  younger  than  Philibert,  and 
Philibert  is  always  ready  to  laugh.  And  how 
cheerful  and  gay  Max  always  was,  though  some- 
times  " 

"  Do  not,  oh,  do  not  I  "  cried  the  princess.  "  Let 
us  not  talk  of  my  father,  or  any  of  the  people  at 
home!  I  am  going  to  weep;  I  shall  be  as  tearful 
as  poor  Cunegunda,"  she  went  on,  half-laughing, 
as  she  brushed  the  tears  from  her  eyes.  "What 
would  her  Majesty,  Queen  Isabella,  say  were  she 
to  see  me  weeping  with  my  jester — she  who  always 

235 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

is  so  careful  never  to  betray  her  emotions,  and  who, 
even  when  she  is  ill,  never  utters  a  moan?  The 
prince  will  come  soon  and  we  are  to  give  an  audi- 
ence to  some  persons  of  distinction,  and  it  will  not 
do  for  me  to  be  seen  with  swollen  eyes." 

"There,  there,"  said  the  jester,  taking  her 
handkerchief  and  wiping  her  eyes  as  if  she  had 
been  a  little  child.  "Your  lashes  are  long  and 
thick,  you  see,  and  the  tears  hang  to  them  and 
make  them  seem  like  more  tears  than  they  really 
are.  They  will  spoil  your  pretty  eyes.  And  you 
are  not  really  sad,  you  know,  for  why  should  you 
be,  when  you  will  one  day  be  queen  of  one  of  the 
great  nations  of  the  earth?" 

"  Somehow  I  do  not  care  about  that  part  of  it, 
Le  Glorieux,  and  I  hope  King  Ferdinand  and  dear 
Queen  Isabella  will  live  to  be  very,  very  old.  But 
I  can  be  dignified  when  I  like,  can  I  not,  Le 
Glorieux?  " 

"  Most  certainly  you  can,  my  little  lady.  That 
night  when  you  were  brought  a  prisoner  before 
Anne  of  Brittany  you  were  as  dignified  as  a  woman 
of  forty." 

"  And  as  I  grow  older  it  will  be  easier  for  me  to 
be  silent  and  cold.    I  am  only  sixteen  now." 

"  Of  course  it  will  be.  The  older  people  grow, 
the  more  silent  and  cold  they  are.  That  is  to  say, 
as  a  rule.  Clotilde,  now,  is  old  and  cold,  but  she  is 
not  always  silent.  There  you  are  smiling,  and 
your  tears  are  all  gone;  do  not  get  into  the  habit 

2^6 


'      AT   THE   SPANISH   COURT 

of  weeping.  As  I  understand  it,  you  are  expected 
neither  to  smile  nor  weep,  but  get  into  a  humor 
half-way  between  the  two  and  you  will  be  just 
right." 

"  Le  Glorieux,"  said  the  princess,  "  if  you  are 
not  happy  in  Spain,  there  is  no  reason  why  you 
should  stay  here.  I  will  send  you  home  to  my 
father,  who  will  be  glad  to  have  you  with  him. 
You  have  plenty  of  friends  there  and  you  will  be 
contented." 

"And  you  would  be  willing  to  have  me  go,  you 
could  spare  me,  little  Cousin?"  asked  the  fool 
sadly. 

"  I  am  not  thinking  of  myself.  I  should  miss 
you  sorely.  But  I  want  you  to  live  where  you  will 
be  happiest:" 

"  Then  that  will  be  where  you  are,  little  Prin- 
cess. No  matter  if  Ferdinand  commands  me  to  be 
as  sour  and  grave  as  one  of  the  dried-up  professors 
in  the  university,  here  do  I  remain." 

Prince  Juan  entered.  He  bent  gracefully  and 
pressed  Marguerite's  fingers  to  his  lips,  then  he 
offered  his  arm,  and  thus  they  left  the  room. 

The  jester  wandered  to  the  garden,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  long  time  on  the  seat  vacated  by  the 
prince.  He  plucked  a  branch  of  pomegranate 
blossoms  and  fastened  it  to  the  front  of  his  yellow 
coat.  "  Bright  colors  help  to  make  one  cheerful," 
murmured  he,  and  rising,  he  went  down  to  the 
river,  and  leaning  ever  the  old  stone  bridge,  he 

237 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

looked  into  the  dingy  waters.  ''  They  tell  me  that 
the  waters  of  the  Tormes  River  will  make  one 
forget  all  he  knows  if  he  drinks  of  them,"  thought 
the  fool.  "  They  have  a  saying  here  if  any  one  for- 
gets anything,  '  He  has  been  drinking  of  the  waters 
of  the  Tormes.'  "  Twilight  had  closed  in  around 
him  when  he  became  conscious  of  some  one  stand- 
ing beside  him.  It  was  a  tall  man  in  a  long  black 
cloak,  and  wearing  a  tall  pointed  black  hat.  He 
was  very  thin  and  his  small  eyes  were  like  black 
beads. 

"  You  were  gazing  into  the  waters  of  the  Tormes, 
Senor,"  said  the  stranger,  in  a  melancholy  voice. 

"  If  you  are  telling  me  that  as  a  piece  of  news 
you  must  not  mind  if  I  am  not  surprised  at  it,"  re- 
plied the  fool. 

"  Do  you  know  the  effect  produced  upon  those 
who  drink  of  this  water,  Senor?"  asked  the 
stranger,  ignoring  the  flippancy  of  the  jester's 
reply. 

*'  Judging  from  the  color  of  the  water,  I  should 
say  the  effect  would  be  gritty,"  replied  Le  Glo- 
rieux. 

"They  are  the  waters  of  oblivion,"  went  on  the 
tall  man;  "  those  who  drink  of  them  forget  all  they 
know." 

"That  would  not  be  a  great  effort  for  some  peo- 
ple," said  Le  Glorieux. 

"  One  cup  of  this  water  and  the  past  is  completely 
forgotten,"  repeated  the  stranger. 

238 


AT   THE   SPANISH   COURT 

"Some  people  might  be  glad  to  forget  their 
past,"  remarked  the  fool. 

"  But  all  wisdom  is  forgotten,  too,"  the  tall  man 
urged  in  reply. 

"  Have  you  tried  it?" 

Without  noticing  the  rather  uncomplimentary 
character  of  this  question,  the  stranger  clutched  the 
lower  corner  of  his  long  mantle  in  his  hand  and 
folding  his  arms  looked  down  into  the  river  for  a 
few  minutes  before  he  replied,  "No,  I  have  not 
tasted  of  these  waters,  for  I  need  all  of  my  wisdom. 
I  am  the  most  learned  doctor  of  all  the  learned 
ones  in  the  University  of  Salamanca." 

"  Retiring  and  modest  of  you  to  say  so,"  replied 
the  jester. 

"The  whole  world  has  heard  of  Don  Velerio 
de  Farrapos,"  said  that  gentleman. 

"  Then  I  do  not  live  in  the  world,  for  this  is 
the  first  time  I  have  heard  that  name." 

"  Do  not  lie  to  me,"  said  the  other,  frowning, 
"you  have  heard  it." 

"Very  well,  if  you  insist  upon  it,"  said  Le  Glo- 
rieux.  "  In  order  to  be  easy  and  comfortable  to- 
gether, we  will  say  that  my  father  had  a  black  cat 
of  that  name.  But  do  not  ask  me  to  remember  it, 
if  you  please.  I  already  have  the  name  of  one 
Spaniard  fixed  in  my  mind,  and  I  am  not  going  to 
have  it  crowded  out  by  yours.  But  what  have  you 
done  that  makes  you  talked  about  by  all  the 
world?" 

239 


THE    COURT  JESTER 

"  I  have  made  a  great  discovery." 

"  What  is  it?  " 

"The  elixir  of  life." 

"  You  do  not  mean  it?  " 

"  The  savants  of  the  Orient,"  v^ent  on  the  Span- 
iard, "claimed  that  there  are  one  hundred  and  one 
ways  in  which  a  man  may  lose  his  life.  He  may 
die  by  poison,  by  drowning,  bad  living,  a  stroke  of 
lightning,  or  in  ninety-six  other  ways.  But  if  he 
dies  before  he  is  one  hundred  years  old,  it  is  the 
result  of  accident,  or  of  his  own  ignorance  or  wil- 
fulness. So  you  see  it  is  not  so  very  easy  to  die, 
when  all  is  said  and  done." 

"But  you  can  not  convince  people  of  that;  they 
will  keep  on  dying,"  said  the  fool. 

"  But  they  need  not,  now  that  I  have  discovered 
the  elixir  of  life,"  replied  Don  Velerio,  in  a  deep 
voice. 

Le  Glorieux  now  surveyed  him  with  a  feeling 
of  awe.  Men  were  searching  at  this  v6ry  time  for 
the  elixir  of  life,  and  why  should  it  not  have  been 
discovered  by  this  learned  doctor  of  Salamanca? 

"  It  is  only  necessary  to  take  it  once  in  fifty 
years,"  observed  Don  Velerio  carelessly. 

"That  seems  a  long  while  between  doses,"  re- 
sponded the  fool.  "  But  while  you  are  about  it,  I 
should  think  you  would  add  something  to  the 
medicine  to  put  flesh  on  your  bones,"  he  con- 
tinued, looking  at  Don  Velerio's  thin  legs,  which, 
clad  in  black  hose,  looked  like  slender  iron  rods. 

240 


"  I  have  discovered  the  elixir  of  life  "  Page  24Q 


AT  THE   SPANISH   COURT 

"  Flesh,"  said  the  learned  man,  "  is  nothing." 

"  It  certainly  is  not  much  in  your  case,"  returned 
the  jester. 

"  But  life,  life  is  everything,"  went  on  Don  Ve- 
lerio,  waving  the  hand  which  still  clutched  the  cor- 
ner of  the  mantle,  a  gesture  which  gave  him  the 
appearance  of  a  large  bat.  "  I  expect  to  live  to  the 
age  of  five  thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
years,"  said  he. 

"  I  am  afraid  you  are  just  a  trifle  ambitious," 
said  the  jester. 

"The  composition  of  my  elixir  is  a  great  secret," 
said  the  Spaniard.  "  It  is  made  from  serpents' 
broth,"  and  he  raised  his  voice  exultantly. 

"  It  must  be  a  great  secret  since  you  bawl  it  out 
like  that."  Le  Glorieux  had  now  lost  all  faith  in 
the  wisdom  of  this  "learned  doctor." 

"  He  doubts  me!  He  dares  to  doubt  me!"  cried 
Don  Velerio,  in  a  shrill  voice,  and  before  he  had 
time  to  realize  what  was  happening,  the  jester  was 
pushed  over  the  low  balustrade  of  the  bridge  and 
into  the  dark  waters  below,  where  he  fell  with  a 
loud  splash. 

This  piece  of  treachery  on  the  part  of  Don 
Velerio  would  not  have  been  a  very  serious  matter, 
for  the  jester  was  a  good  swimmer,  had  not  the 
victim  of  it  struck  an  abutment  of  the  bridge  as  he 
went  down,  which  stunned  him  and  prevented  him 
from  making  any  effort  to  save  himself.  He  would 
have  drowned  had  not  two  men  in  a  rowboat  not 

241 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

far  away  succeeded  in  dragging  the  unconscious 
fool  into  their  boat. 

When  he  returned  to  his  senses  he  was  in  his  own 
room,  and  a  nun,  with  a  kind  and  gentle  face,  was 
sitting  beside  him. 

"Why  do  you  come  here  to  watch  me  sleep?" 
he  asked,  and  was  surprised  to  find  that  his  voice 
was  so  weak. 

"You  must  be  quiet;  you  have  been  very  ill," 
said  she. 

"  I  ill?  Now  that  is  a  queer  thing,  a  very  queer 
thing  I    What  made  me  ill  ?  " 

"Do  not  trouble  your  head  about  it.  It  is  best 
for  you  to  remain  perfectly  silent." 

"  I  will  not  be  quiet  until  you  have  answered 
my  questions.  If  anybody  ought  to  be  interested 
in  this  affair,  it  seems  to  me  I  ought  to  be  the  one." 

The  nun  reflected  a  moment,  then  she  said 
thoughtfully,  "Perhaps  it  might  be  better  to  tell 
you,  after  all.  You  fell  off  of  the  bridge  into  the 
river.  You  were  saved  by  two  boatmen,  but  you 
seemed  to  be  in  a  stupor." 

"  I  remember  all  about  it  now,"  cried  the  jester. 
"It  was  that  old  black  spider  of  a  doctor  who 
pushed  me  in.  Let  me  up  and  I  will  break  every 
bone  in  his  body!  " 

The  sister  put  her  hand  to  his  breast  and  pushed 
him  back  to  his  pillow  again,  and  he  was  astonished 
to  find  how  easily  this  delicate  woman  could  man- 

242 


AT   THE   SPANISH   COURT 

age  him.    "You  must  not  grow  excited,"  she  said 
gently. 

"  He  came  there  and  talked  to  me  about  his  old 
elixir  of  life,"  said  Le  Glorieux.  "Did  it  of  his 
own  accord;  I  never  invited  him;  then  he  said  I 
doubted  him,  which  I  did,  and  he  pushed  me 
over." 

"  Don  Velerio  is  very  sensitive  about  his  dis- 
covery," said  the  nun,  "  but  he  did  not  intend  really 
to  harm  you." 

"  He  did  a  queer  thing  for  a  man  who  did  not 
intend  anything  by  it." 

"  Don  Velerio  is  flighty  at  times,  and  he  was 
sorry  for  what  he  had  done.  He  has  sent  J'-qu  a 
vial  of  his  elixir  of  life." 

"  Send  it  straight  back  to  him  and  tell  him,  with 
my  compliments,  to  take  it  himself  and  see  if  it  will 
make  him " 

The  door  opened  before  he  had  finished  the 
sentence,  and  the  princess  entered,  followed  by  a 
page  who  bore  a  torch  to  light  the  way  along  the 
corridors.  She  was  dressed  as  if  for  a  grand  fete. 
A  coronet  rested  on  her  hair,  gems  flashed  about  her 
throat,  her  arms,  and  her  slender  waist.  In  all  her 
gorgeous  array  she  knelt  on  the  floor  and  took  in 
both  her  own  the  hand  of  the  jester. 

"  Little  Cousin,"  said  he. 

"Oh,  he  is  conscious!"  she  cried.  "I  am  so 
rejoiced  to  know  it!  Now  you  are  going  to  recover 
right  away,  are  you  not,  my  poor  Le  Glorieux?  " 

243 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

"The  sight  of  you,  as  you  look  now,  ought  to 
make  even  the  broken  statue  of  a  man  pull  himself 
together,"  he  replied,  smiling  faintly. 

"Oh,  it  is  so  good  to  hear  you  talk,"  she  ex- 
claimed, laughing,  though  her  eyes  were  full  of 
teafs. 

"  I  did  not  know  that  it  was  so  strange  a  thing 
to  hear  me  talk,"  said  he. 

"Why,  you  have  not  said  one  word  for  more 
than  two  weeks!"  she  said  impulsively.  "But 
perhaps   I  ought  not  to  have  told  you." 

"  I  did  not  think  it  best  to  tell  the  patient  too 
much,  your  Highness,"  said  the  nun  almost  re- 
proachfully. "  He  seemed  so  anxious  to  talk  that 
I  allowed  him  to  ask  some  questions,  but  I  was  just 
about  to  bid  him  be  quiet  when  your  gracious 
Highness  entered  the  room." 

"  I  am  always  blundering,  even  with  you,  Le 
Glorieux,"  said  the  princess,  rising,  "  but  now  I 
will  go.  Try  to  sleep,  try  to  get  well  as  soon  as 
possible.  And  now  good-by  for  the  present."  She 
smiled  down  upon  him,  took  her  long  train  over 
her  arm,  and  motioning  to  the  page  to  open  the 
door,  went  from  the  room. 

"  She  is  a  great  princess;  she  is  the  future  Queen 
of  Spain,  yet  she  does  not  forget  the  poor  jester," 
murmured  the  sick  man,  while  to  himself  his 
words  sounded  as  if  they  had  been  uttered  by  some 
one  else  and  he  seemed  to  sail  away  into  a  silent 
sea. 

244 


AT   THE   SPANISH   COURT 

When  he  once  more  became  conscious  the  bright 
sun  was  streaming  in  at  the  open  window,  and 
standing  beside  his  bed  and  looking  down  at  him 
with  coldly  blinking  eyes,  was  the  Lady  Clotilde. 

"  I  thought  I  had  died  and  gone  to  Heaven,"  said 
the  jester  weakly,  "  but  this  is  only  purgatory." 

"  I  do  not  know  that  you  ought  to  talk,"  said  the 
Lady  Clotilde.  "  I  wish  you  had  not  returned  to 
consciousness  while  Sister  Barbara  is  out.  I  never 
know  what  to  do  with  sick  people." 

"  I  have  been  talking  all  my  life,  and  it  has  not 
killed  me  yet,"  said  the  jester. 

"  I  came  on  behalf  of  her  Highness,  the  Princess 
of  the  Asturias,"  said  the  Lady  Clotilde.  "Not 
being  able  to  come  in  person,  she  sent  me  to  see 
that  you  were  well  cared  for  and  had  everything 
that  you  needed." 

"She  was  here  last  night,"  said  he;  "she  said 
she  was  so  glad  to  hear  me  talk  again," 

"  Oh,  that  was  some  time  ago.  She  has  been  here 
since,  but  you  did  not  recognize  her.  You  have 
been  raving  with  fever  for  six  weeks." 

"Fever?"  he  asked,  considerably  puzzled. 
"Why,  I  thought  I  was  pushed  over  a  bridge." 

"And  so  you  were,  but  it  terminated  in  a  fever. 
The  leeches  do  not  know  whether  the  accident 
brought  on  the  fever,  or  whether  the  malady  was 
already  in  your  system.  They  have  had  several 
consultations  about  it." 

"  I  do  not  see  the  sense  of  consulting  about  a 

245 


THE    COURT   JESTER 

thing  like  that.  What  difference  does  it  make 
what  gave  me  the  fever,  since  it  is  very  evident 
that  I  have  it?  How  long  have  I  been  here  al- 
together?" 

"Just  eight  weeks  ago  this  night,  for  I  remem- 
ber I  ordered  a  gown  from  the  best  tailor  of  Sala- 
manca, and  he  promised  it  in  a  week,  and  it  has  not 
come  yet,  and  it  was  the  night  of  your  accident,  for 
I  heard  about  it  just  as  the  tailor  was  leaving  the 
palace,  where  he  had  come  to  take  my  order.  Eight 
weeks,  think  of  it,  and  that  gown  no  nearer  finished, 
I  will  warrant,  than  it  was  the  day  it  was  fitted! 
These  Spanish  tradesmen  are  the  slowest  people 
in  this  world."  And  the  Lady  Clotilde  became 
very  much  excited  about  her  wrongs. 

"Well,  I  think  that  your  situation  was  better 
than  mine  during  those  eight  weeks,"  said  the 
jester,  "  but  I  dare  say  I  was  in  no  higher  fever 
than  you  were  throughout  that  time.  I  do  not  sup- 
pose I  have  missed  anything  by  being  ill,  except, 
perhaps,  several  dozen  bull-fights.  I  would  I  were 
back  in  Vienna  again,"  he  continued,  with  a  sigh. 

"Vienna?  I  would  not  return  there  for  the 
world,"  said  the  lady.  "The  climate  of  Spain  is 
simply  glorious." 

"  I  am  not  especially  fond  of  climate  by  itself," 
said  the  fool. 

"  I  really  do  think  you  ought  not  to  talk,"  said 
the  Lady  Clotilde.  "  I  do  wish  you  had  not  re- 
turned to  consciousness  while  Sister  Barbara  is  out." 

246 


AT   THE    SPANISH    COURT 

"  You  said  that  before,"  said  the  fool  fretfully. 
"Why  would  it  not  be  just  as  easy  to  wish  that 
Sister  Barbara  had  been  in  when  I  did  return  to 
consciousness?" 

"  I  see  that  you  are  inclined  to  be  captious,"  re- 
turned the  Lady  Clotilde  calmly.  "  They  say 
Prince  Juan  is  like  an  angel." 

"What  has  that  to  do  with  me?"  asked  Le  Glo- 
rieux  wearily.    "  He  is  not  a  near  relative  of  mine." 

"  I  forgot  that  you  were  ignorant  of  the  fact  that 
his  Highness  is  very,  very  ill." 

"111?    His  Highness  ill?" 

"Yes,  he  also  has  the  fever,  the  same  that  you 
have,  but  the  leeches  are  confident  that  they  can 
cure  him." 

The  fever  had  now  spent  itself,  and  Le  Glorieux, 
being  naturally  of  a  strong  constitution,  made  rapid 
progress  toward  recovery.  Marguerite  came  no 
more,  for  every  moment  was  spent  beside  the  couch 
of  the  prince,  who  was  making  a  brave  fight  for  his 
life. 

But  one  morning  the  bells  began  to  toll,  and  it 
seemed  as  if  a  pall  had  settled  over  the  land,  for 
the  Prince  of  the  Asturias,  the  hope  of  Spain,  was 
no  more!  The  heir  to  the  throne  of  a  great  king- 
dom had  bowed  his  young  head  meekly  to  the 
divine  will,  and  gladly  had  exchanged  the  splen- 
dors of  earth  for  the  joys  of  Heaven.  History  says, 
"  All  the  nations  mourned,  and  the  court,  instead  of 
being  hung  with  white  serge,  was  draped  in  sack- 

247 


THE  COURT  JESTER 

cloth.  .  .  .  Brutus,  a  beautiful  hound  belonging 
to  the  prince,  could  not  be  induced  to  leave  his 
body,  but  went  to  his  tomb  and  died  there." 

It  was  a  pale  and  sorrowful  queen  whom  Le  Glo- 
rieux  beheld  when  next  he  went  to  court.  The 
fairy-like  columns  and  sparkling  fountains  of  her 
palaces  were  no  longer  a  delight  to  Queen  Isa- 
bella; for  her  the  roses  in  the  Alhambra  gardens 
had  lost  their  fragrance,  and  she  thought  with  in- 
difference of  her  new  possessions  across  the  sea,  for 
she  had  lost  the  dearest  treasure  of  all,  and  the 
great  queen  had  become  the  sorrowing  mother. 


248 


CHAPTER   XIII 

TRIPPING  THE  MEASURES  OF  THE  EGG-DANCE 

Ferdinand  and  Isabella  were  very  kind  to  the 
young  Princess  of  the  Asturias,  and  insisted  that 
she  should  remain  with  them.  Some  writers  see 
a  selfish  motive  in  this  invitation,  saying  that  the 
royal  couple  feared  to  have  Austria's  daughter  es- 
cape from  their  influence,  that  they  wished  to  con- 
trol her  future,  lest  she  should  make  a  marriage 
directly  opposed  to  the  interests  of  Spain.  But 
why  not  give  them  the  credit  of  being  really  kind- 
hearted,  and  of  wanting  the  society  of  the  girl- 
widow,  whom  they  must  have  loved  for  their  son's 
sake  if  not  for  her  own? 

But  Marguerite  longed  for  her  home  and  for 
her  father,  and  one  day  Le  Glorieux  found  her 
weeping  in  one  of  the  myrtle  walks  of  the  Alcazar 
gardens.  "You  are  crying  in  this  beautiful  twi- 
light," said  he,  "when  the  nightingales  are  just 
beginning  to  sing,  and  you  are  close  beside  roses 
which  could  not  be  any  redder  and  which  have  a 
fragrance  that  almost  makes  one  drunk.  Look  at 
the  goldfishes  in  that  fountain,  look  at  that  tree 
loaded  down  with  oranges,  which,  though  they 
are  of  a  kind  that  is  not  good  to  eat,  make  a  fine 
show.     Look  through  the  trees  at  that  beautiful 

249 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

palace  where  you  have  but  to  utter  a  word  and 
your  wish  is  granted,  and  then  have  the  heart  to 
weep!" 

But  the  princess  continued  to  sob. 

"  We  did  not  have  half  so  many  comforts  in  your 
father's  empire,"  he  went  on.  "  The  time  we  went 
to  hunt  the  chamois  with  Max  we  found  no  lux- 
uries in  The  Hunter's  Rest.  We  were  warm  and 
comfortable  and  that  was  about  all ;  all  you  could 
do  was  to  run  about  with  your  ladies  and  work  at 
your  embroidery  while  the  men  hunted.  Do  you 
remember  how  gay  Max  was  when  he  came  back, 
and  how  he  told  about  the  chamois,  and " 

"  Oh,  do  not  talk  of  it! "  cried  the  princess,  inter- 
rupting him.  "  Why  must  you  make  me  more 
wretched  than  I  was  before  you  came?" 

Cunegunda  came  along  the  walk  with  a  mantilla 
of  fine  black  lace  over  her  arm;  this  she  threw, 
Spanish  fashion,  over  the  head  and  shoulders  of 
her  young  mistress.  "You  have  been  making  her 
cry!"  she  said  reproachfully,  to  the  jester. 

"That  is  a  fine  thing  to  say,  when  I  have  been 
talking  myself  hoarse  to  keep  her  from  crying! 
But,  of  course,  you  always  blame  me  with  every- 
thing." 

"  You  were  making  her  cry;  I  heard  you,  and  I 
heard  what  she  said,"  insisted  the  woman.  "  You 
were  talking  about  the  inn  in  the  Tyrol." 

"  I  do  not  deny  it.  I  did  it  for  the  purpose  of 
contrast.    Think  of  that  mean  little  inn  and  the 

250 


THE    EGG-DANCE 

cold  snow,  then  think  of  this  marble  palace  and 
these  flowers." 

"  If  one  is  right  on  the  inside,  it  does  not 
much  matter  what  is  on  the  outside,"  replied  the 
woman.  "When  the  heart  is  comfortable  every- 
thing is  bright  to  the  eyes." 

"  You  do  not  weep  as  much  as  you  used  to 
do,  Cunegunda,"  said  the  jester,  looking  at  her 
thoughtfully.  "  Even  the  sight  of  me  does  not 
make  you  cry  any  more." 

"  I  control  my  tears  for  the  sake  of  my  young 
mistress,  who  weeps  so  much,"  returned  Cune- 
gunda with  dignity. 

"You  have  some  good  points,  I  must  say,"  re- 
plied the  fool. 

The  princess  had  now  dried  her  eyes,  and  had 
drawn  the  folds  of  the  mantilla  closer  about  her 
face.  "  I  want  to  go  home,"  said  she.  "  All  of  my 
ladies  and  gentlemen  want  to  go  home.  They  hate 
the  restraint  of  the  Spanish  court;  and  I  want  to 
see  my  father." 

"This  is  the  first  time  I  have  mentioned  it," 
said  the  fool,  "  but  I  also  want  to  go  home.  I  want 
to  see  Max  and  I  want  to  see  that  little  wretch  of 
an  Antoine,  and  Pittacus,  and  Pandora." 

"And  we  will  go,"  cried  Marguerite,  rising  to 
her  feet  with  a  new  light  sparkling  in  her  eyes.  "  I 
will  write  to  the  emperor,  my  father,  at  once,  and 
we  will  set  out  at  the  earliest  possible  moment." 

And  again  did  the  daughter  of  Maximilian  re- 

251 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

turn  to  him,  still  only  a  princess,  for  it  was  destined 
that  she  should  never  wear  the  crown  of  a  queen. 
But  when  she  beheld  her  native  land,  and  the  hand- 
some, kindly  face  of  her  father  once  more,  she  was 
as  happy  as  one  whose  most  ambitious  dreams  had 
been  realized. 

Le  Glorieux  said,  "At  last  we  really  have  left 
Clotilde  behind,  and  as  Don  Geronimo  Bartolomeo 
Zurriago  y  Escafusa  says  he  never  will  go  out  of  his 
native  land  again,  we  may  safely  conclude  that 
Clotilde  Is  a  fixture  in  Spain."  The  jester  was  af- 
fectionately embraced  by  Antoine,  who  declared 
himself  overjoyed  to  see  his  old  friend  again,  but 
their  master  was  disgusted  to  find  that  Pandora  and 
PIttacus  received  him  with  their  usual  cold  In- 
difference. 

One  day,  In  the  following  spring  time,  Margue- 
rite said  to  Le  Glorieux: 

"  Cunegunda  is  once  more  suffering  from  mi- 
graine, and  thinks  that  nothing  will  cure  her  but 
another  pilgrimage  to  the  shrine  of  Saint  Roch. 
She  thinks  that  when  she  was  there  before  she  did 
not  give  enough  time  to  her  prayer,  being  in  too 
great  haste  to  leave ;  otherwise  she  would  have  been 
cured  permanently.  I  am  often  depressed  and 
weary,  and  I  think  the  journey  will  benefit  me. 
So  I  shall  go  with  such  of  my  household  as  I  shall 
need." 

"  It  Is  a  long  journey  to  make  for  Cunegunda's 
sake,"  observed  the  jester. 

252 


THE    EGG-DANCE 

"  Cunegunda  has  been  one  of  my  best  friends 
throughout  my  life,"  replied  the  princess,  "  so  why 
should  I  not  strive  to  please  her?  But  as  I  said  be- 
fore, it  is  not  altogether  upon  her  account  that  I 
want  to  go.  I  wish  to  be  taken  out  of  myself.  The 
world  is  not  so  happy  a  place  as  it  used  to  be." 

"  Little  Cousin,  I  do  not  often  ask  a  favor  of 
you,  do  I?"  asked  the  fool. 

"No,  Le  Glorieux,  a  fact  which  would  make  me 
the  more  inclined  to  grant  you  one  now." 

"  I  want  you  to  let  me  have  a  man  and  a  horse," 
he  replied. 

"  For  what  purpose?  " 

"  I  wish  to  send  a  message  to  the  young  Duke  of 
Savoy.  He  lost  a  valuable  jewel  when  he  was  with 
us,  and  I  want  to  tell  him  where  he  can  find  it." 

"  Perhaps  it  is  between  the  leaves  of  his  prayer- 
book,"  said  the  princess,  smiling.  "  But  if  you  have 
an  idea  where  this  wonderful  jewel  is,  why  can 
you  not  find  it  and  send  it  to  him?  " 

"There  are  certain  reasons  why  such  an  act  on 
my  part  would  be  out  of  the  question,"  returned  the 
jester.  "  But  if  you  do  not  want  to  let  me  have 
the  man  and  the  horse,  we  will  say  nothing  more 
about  it." 

"  I  do  not  object  in  the  least,  Le  Glorieux.  Send 
as  many  messengers  as  you  like  to  Savoy." 

They  set  out  from  the  historic  city  of  Aix-la- 
Chapelle,  where  the  court  was  staying  at  the  time, 
and  even  at  the  end  of  the  first  day's  travel  the 

253 


THE    COURT  JESTER 

princess  expressed  herself  as  being  wonderfully 
benefited  with  the  journey. 

Late  on  the  following  afternoon  as  they  ap- 
proached a  hostelry  where  they  expected  to  stay 
the  night,  they  noticed  a  queer-looking  animal 
painted  on  the  sign-board  and  before  they  were 
sufficiently  near  to  read  the  name  beneath  it,  they 
began  to  speculate  as  to  what  it  could  be. 

"  I  should  say  it  was  a  horse,"  said  the  princess. 

"  And  I,"  said  the  jester,  who  rode  at  her  side, 
"  should  call  it  a  calf  in  convulsions." 

Coming  nearer  they  read  the  sign,  which  was 
"The  Flying  Fawn."  So  many  things  had  hap- 
pened since  she  had  heard  the  name  that  the  prin- 
cess had  forgotten  it,  but  as  they  drew  up  and  the 
pretty  landlady  came  to  the  door,  Le  Glorieux  ex- 
claimed, "Cimburga!" 

Yes,  it  was  Frau  Obermeister,  as  Cimburga  was 
now  called,  and  she  was  followed  by  her  tall  hus- 
band, both  almost  doubting  the  evidence  of  their 
senses  when  they  beheld  the  princess.  Even  before 
the  latter  alighted  from  her  mule  Cimburga  ran 
out  and  was  about  to  press  the  hem  of  Marguerite's 
robe  to  her  lips  when  the  princess  reached  out  her 
hand,  which  the  landlady  kissed,  saying,  "  Oh,  gra- 
cious lady,  I  never  have  forgotten  your  face,  which 
is  now  more  beautiful  than  ever.  And  never  have 
I  ceased  to  offer  the  prayer  I  told  you  of,  and  my 
little  daughter,  although  she  can  scarcely  lisp  the 
words,  offers  petitions  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  for 

254 


They  approached  a  hostelry  Page  2^ J. 


THE    EGG-DANCE 

your  health  and  happiness,  for  she  has  learned  that 
it  is  to  your  goodness  that  we  owe  all  that  we  now 
have." 

"  Happiness  is  a  strange  thing,"  remarked  Le 
Glorieux  afterward  to  Cimburga.  "You  and  Karl 
living  in  this  snug  inn,  with  your  two  chubby  chil- 
dren, have  plenty  of  it,  while  the  Lady  Margue- 
rite, even  when  she  wedded  the  Prince  of  the  As- 
turias,  had  not  found  it." 

"  It  will  yet  come  to  her;  she  is  still  very  young, 
and  my  prayers  will  be  answered,"  replied  Cim- 
burga simply. 

Castle  Hohenberg  was  a  good  many  miles  north 
of  The  Flying  Fawn,  but  Cimburga  had  heard  one 
piece  of  news  from  that  hospitable  household 
which,  when  she  told  it  to  him,  surprised  the  fool 
greatly.  The  seneschal  had  married  the  house- 
keeper shortly  after  the  visit  of  the  emperor. 

"I  can  not  believe  it!"  cried  Le  Glorieux. 
"Why,  those  two  were  always  quarreling!" 

"  And  so  they  were,"  she  agreed,  "  but  now,  I  am 
told,  they  never  speak  an  unpleasant  word  to  each 
other." 

Speaking  of  this  marriage  to  his  mistress,  when 
they  had  resumed  their  journey,  the  jester  said, 
"  For  a  couple  who  were  ready  to  scratch  each 
other's  eyes  out  before  marriage,  to  be  perfectly 
angelic  afterward,  is  nothing  less  than  a  miracle." 

She  replied,  "  Hohenberg  is  the  place  for  mira- 
cles.   Think  of  Saint  Monica." 

255 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

"Which  was  not  a  miracle,  after  all,"  replied 
the  fool ;  and  then  he  told  her  the  truth  regarding 
that  night's  strange  occurrence,  as  it  had  been  re- 
lated to  him  by  Philibert,  adding,  "  He  did  it 
because  you  had  prayed  for  her,  little  Cousin." 

It  tvas,  as  the  jester  had  said,  a  long  journey,  but 
at  length  they  reached  the  end  of  it,  and  Cunegunda 
made  frequent  visits  to  the  shrine  of  Saint  Roch,  de- 
claring even  after  the  first  one  that  the  pain  was 
much  less  severe  than  it  had  been. 

Everything  about  the  old  inn  was  much  as  it 
had  been  at  their  first  visit,  though  the  little  Mary 
had  become  a  great  chatterbox,  and  this  time  was 
able  to  thank  the  princess  for  the  present  of  a  gold 
piece. 

Anne,  the  queen-duchess,  was  staying  for  a 
time  in  one  of  her  castles  in  the  province  of  Brit- 
tany, it  being  her  custom  to  visit  her  domain  as 
often  as  she  could  make  it  convenient  to  do  so. 
Hearing  of  the  presence  at  the  inn  of  the  Princess 
of  the  Asturias,  she  sent  to  her  an  invitation,  offer- 
ing the  hospitality  of  her  roof  for  the  Easter  season. 
Although  the  King  of  France  and  the  Emperor  of 
Austria  had  been  enemies,  the  princess  and  the 
queen  had  not  shared  the  ill  feeling,  and  history, 
which  as  a  rule  makes  out  people  to  have  been 
worse  than  they  really  were,  admits  that  the  two 
ladies  ever  were  friendly  to  each  other  and  that 
they  sometimes  exchanged  presents. 

The  King  of  France  was  away  with  hi?  soldiers, 

256 


THE   EGG-DANCE 

and  as  the  royal  little  ones  had  remained  in  the 
palace  of  Amboise,  it  was  not  difficult  to  imagine 
that  time  had  remained  stationary  and  that  the  fair 
chatelaine  of  the  castle  was  still  simply  the  Lady 
Anne,  Duchess  of  Brittany. 

Fetes  and  entertainments  were  arranged  in  honor 
of  the  guest,  and  happy  were  the  hours  that  Anne 
and  Marguerite  spent  together. 

On  Easter  Monday  the  people  for  miles  around 
met  in  the  valley  to  engage  in  the  customary  games 
of  the  season.  The  married  men  entertained  them- 
selves with  archery,  the  prize  for  the  best  shot  be- 
ing considered  worth  winning.  The  archers  shot 
at  a  cask  of  wine,  and  he  who  was  so  fortunate  as 
to  pierce  the  wood  was  permitted  to  put  his  lips 
to  the  aperture  thus  made,  and  to  drink  of  the 
amber  liquid  until  he  was  satisfied,  the  others  tak- 
ing their  turn  when  he  had  finished.  But  the 
young  people  craved  something  more  exciting  than 
the  mere  drinking  of  wine,  and  their  gay  laughter 
rang  out  joyously  and  vigorously  as  they  went 
through  their  native  dances. 

The  princess  from  her  place  beside  her  royal 
hostess  enjoyed  the  scene  thoroughly.  Finally  be- 
gan the  most  exciting  dance  of  the  day.  A  hun- 
dred eggs  were  scattered  over  the  ground  and  two 
youths  chose  their  partners  and  began  the  figure. 
Although  on  the  surface  a  trivial  matter  and  one 
to  provoke  laughter,  this  dance  was  a  very  serious 
affair  to  those  who  engaged  in  it;  for  the  couple 

257 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

who  could  skip  over  the  eggs,  glide  between  them, 
twirl  about  them  in  the  many  turns  required  by  the 
dance,  without  breaking  or  cracking  an  egg,  might 
marry  each  other  in  spite  of  the  opposition  of  par- 
ents or  guardians.  Each  couple  was  allowed  three 
trials,  and  the  dance  being  successfully  concluded, 
none  had  a  right  to  say  "  Nay"  to  the  union. 

While  the  merrymaking  was  at  its  height  the 
sound  of  a  hunter's  horn  was  heard  ringing 
through  the  forest,  and  soon  there  appeared  a  com- 
pany of  men  on  horseback  and  in  brilliant  uni- 
forms. At  their  head  rode  a  beautiful  youth 
attired  in  the  rich  costume  affected  by  the  nobles  of 
the  time,  who,  leaping  from  his  horse,  bent  a 
graceful  knee  to  the  queen,  requesting  her  hospi- 
tality. It  was  granted  at  once,  for  this  was  Phili- 
bert  the  Handsome,  Duke  of  Savoy! 

He  bowed  low  before  the  princess  and  gave  a 
friendly  greeting  to  the  others,  but  to  Le  Glorieux 
he  murmured,  "  The  jewel  about  which  you  wrote 
me  I  have  come  to  claim." 

The  dance,  which  had  ceased  when  the  hunters 
appeared  upon  the  scene,  was  now  resumed  with 
greater  merriment  than  before,  and  after  watching 
them  intently  for  a  while  Marguerite  said  wist- 
fully, "Would  that  I  might  try  that  dance." 

Then  Philibert  once  more  inclined  his  graceful 
figure  and  said,  "  Madame,  will  you  permit  me  to 
be  your  partner?" 

This  was  equivalent  to  an  offer  of  marriage,  and 

258 


The  Princess  placed  her  hand  in  his         P^ige  zjn 


THE    EGG-DANCE 

his  followers  and  her  own  became  wildly  enthu- 
siastic. Cries  were  heard  of  "  Austria  and  Savoy! " 
and  it  seemed  to  Le  Glorieux  that  in  his  joy  his 
own  cry  must  have  rung  to  the  very  skies,  while 
cheer  upon  cheer  rent  the  air. 

The  princess  placed  her  hand  in  his  and  the 
comely  pair  took  their  places.  There  was  a  serious 
task  before  them.  They  must  dance  around  and 
over  and  between  those  eggs  without  breaking  any, 
and  that,  too,  with  many  eyes  intently  watching 
them.  The  members  of  noble  families  were  ac- 
customed to  dance;  the  little  feet  of  the  lady  could 
poise  as  lightly  as  thistle-down,  while  the  knight 
was  graceful  in  every  step.  When  the  dance  was 
ended  not  a  single  egg  had  been  touched! 

Exercise  in  the  open  air  had  deepened  the  tint  on 
the  cheek  of  the  princess.  Philibert  bent  his  head 
and  whispered  something  in  her  ear. 

"  Yes,"  said  she,  smiling  brightly,  "  let  us  follow 
the  custom  of  the  country." 

"  Philibert  has  found  his  jewel,"  said  Le  Glo- 
rieux, "  and  I  have  helped  him  to  get  it." 

"What  jewel  do  you  mean?"  asked  the  princess. 

"What  should  I  mean,  but  yourself,  fair  lady? 
You  are  the  jewel  he  always  has  admired.  I  am 
nothing  but  a  fool,  but  I  am  not  blind." 

One  year  from  that  day  the  two  were  married. 
To  their  guests  they  gave  as  souvenirs  gold  and 
silver  eggs  filled  with  spices,  which  they  called 
Easter  eggs,  and  which  the  natives  of  Savoy  claim 

259 


THE   COURT  JESTER 

was  the  origin  of  the  pleasant  custom  of  giving 
eggs  at  that  season. 

And  Philibert  and  Marguerite  never  had  occa- 
sion to  regret  that  happy  day  in  the  forest,  when, 
forgetting  everything  save  that  their  hearts  were 
beating  with  the  joy  of  youth,  they  together  tripped 
the  measures  of  the  egg-dance. 


THE  END 


# 


